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Oct. 13th, 2004 09:03 amConvicted! Yes! The serial killer, Derrick Todd Lee, who terrorized our area for so long, has finally been convicted of first degree murder. I am so happy the jury came back with a guilty verdict so quickly - they took just over an hour. The DNA evidence was too overwhelming.
Now the penalty phase begins and this is where I get torn. I have always been opposed to the death penalty. To me it's wrong. Taking a life is taking a life. But I swear, this case has really made me question my beliefs. The viciousness with which he raped and killed these women makes me want revenge. Actually his worse fate would be spending the rest of his life locked up in prison, but he so does not want to die, and is trying to get out of it anyway he can. Oh he didn't mind beating, stabbing and slashing to death all those women, but when he's faced with death by lethal injection, he's a big chicken.
I'm not sure why I feel so strongly in this case. I didn't know any of the victims. But I have been amazingly impressed by the victims family members who have all stood together, supported one another, and shown unbeliavble strength in coming to the trial everyday, listening to th most gruesome testimony about their loved ones and the way they suffered. I guess I just can't help but empathise with them.
I do still believe it's fundamentally wrong, but if Lee get's the death penalty I know I am going to feel glad, and that scares me.
Now the penalty phase begins and this is where I get torn. I have always been opposed to the death penalty. To me it's wrong. Taking a life is taking a life. But I swear, this case has really made me question my beliefs. The viciousness with which he raped and killed these women makes me want revenge. Actually his worse fate would be spending the rest of his life locked up in prison, but he so does not want to die, and is trying to get out of it anyway he can. Oh he didn't mind beating, stabbing and slashing to death all those women, but when he's faced with death by lethal injection, he's a big chicken.
I'm not sure why I feel so strongly in this case. I didn't know any of the victims. But I have been amazingly impressed by the victims family members who have all stood together, supported one another, and shown unbeliavble strength in coming to the trial everyday, listening to th most gruesome testimony about their loved ones and the way they suffered. I guess I just can't help but empathise with them.
I do still believe it's fundamentally wrong, but if Lee get's the death penalty I know I am going to feel glad, and that scares me.
