Subject: Christopher Scott Emmett Execution Alert - VADP 5
P.O. Box 4804, Charlottesville, VA 22905
(888) 567-VADP (434) 960-7779
Action Alert October 11, 2007
Chris Scott Emmett to be Executed October 17th
Contact Governor Tim Kaine
Vigil in Protest
Dear VADP Action Alert List Member,
The 99th Virginia execution is now set for Wednesday, October 17, 2007. At 9:00 pm Christopher Scott Emmett is scheduled to be lethally injected in the Death Chamber at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, VA. Contrary to what you may be reading in news stories, there is no moratorium on lethal injection executions in effect. The Virginia Department of Corrections will move Chris Scott Emmet to the Death House at the Greensville Correctional Center in the next few days. This execution will proceed as scheduled barring a court intervention or a stay by the governor.
Once again we need to ask for your help to urge Governor Kaine to either stay this execution until the US Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of lethal injection or commute Chris Emmett’s death sentence to life-in-prison-without-parole.
Remember the victim but not with more killing!
We join those who mourn the loss of John Langley and are determined to eliminate the violence that brought about his senseless murder. But execution is neither a solution to violence nor a comfort to mourners. It is part of the problem and increases the cycle of violence.
Inadequate Representation
The issue here is not guilt or innocence but the specter, once again of inadequate representation by his court appointed public defender and the fact that capital punishment as practiced in Virginia is not reserved for the “worst of the worst” crimes. Emmett is guilty of murder. Should he be executed for that murder is the question?
Jurors Were Not Told the Truth About Scott Emmett
Jurors asked to determine whether execution was the appropriate sentence for Emmett were not told the truth about his childhood history. This is unfair, not only to Emmett but to those expected to make life and death decisions in our names.
Lethal Injection
Also at issue is Virginia’s continuing use of a lethal injection protocol which is banned by the American Veterinary Medical Association for use on cats and dogs as being “cruel and inhumane.” This same protocol has lead to the present halting of executions in at least 11 other death penalty states from Maryland to California. A recent study on lethal injection cited Virginia for using the smallest doses of any lethal injection state of thiopental as an anesthetic. Questions also need to be raised due to recent revelations that the execution team leader in Virginia has had no certifiable medical training.
On Oct 2, the US Supreme Court decided to review the case of two Kentucky death row prisoners who are challenging lethal injection. Oral arguments in this case, Baze v Rees will be heard in early 2008 with a decision expected by summer 2008. Virginia uses the same three drug protocol as Kentucky. In his previous statement staying Mr. Emmett’s June execution because he still had an appeal pending before the Court, Gov. Kaine said:
“Basic fairness demands that condemned inmates be allowed the opportunity to complete legal appeals prior to execution. Allowing Emmett’s execution to go forward…would foreclose any additional review of his case. The irreversibility of an execution…warrant my intervention in this case.” Mr. Emmett’s attorneys have requested a stay based upon the anticipated Baze v Rees ruling, common decency and justice require that Virginia delay any executions by lethal injection until the US Supreme Court hands down its ruling on the constitutionality of lethal injection.
Commute this sentence to Life without Parole
Please call, email and/or write Governor Tim Kaine asking him to stay this execution, address the questions of Virginia’s lethal injection protocol, andcommute Christopher Scott Emmett’s sentence to life in prison without parole.
Messages requesting clemency for Mr. Emmett should be addressed to:
The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Emails: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm
Protest state-killing on October 17, 2007:
4:00 to 6:00 PM in front of the Office of the Governor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Execution Vigils: October 17th
- Fill-the-Field in front of the Death House
8:30 - 9:30 PM
Greensville Correctional Center
Jarratt, VA
- Vigils across the Commonwealth in 20+ locations
See http://vadp.org/attend-a-vigil.html for a list of sites and contacts
For further information on the case of Christopher Scott Emmett go to: http://www.vadp.org/christopherscottemmett.html.
- To reach a wider audience with this message, please also consider writing a Letter to the Editor either before or after the execution
- Contacting your media outlets askingthem to cover this story. Listings can be found at the following site: http://www.disastercenter.com/virginia/media.html.
Thanks for all you do.
Jack Payden-Travers, Director
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 4804
Charlottesville, VA 22905
888-567-VADP (8237)
434-960-7779 (cell)
Personal Note from Tilly Gokbudak: This case involves the community I work in, which is Danville, Va. I posted a case synopsis in an earlier entry this July when this execution was originally scheduled. I know capital punishment is a sensitive issue, and I am all too aware of the reasons why many do not hold my view that it is entirely unacceptable for a civilized, democratic society to conduct executions regardless of how heinous the crime is. We have executed many people in this country who did not commit murder. Since our tax payer money funds these executions, each of us is ultimately responsible for them.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment