Comments on: Ex-KKK Edgar Ray Killen Convicted in 1964 Killings

By: Margaret Roberts

Margaret Roberts — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:01:54 +0000

I think the sentancing on Edgar Ray Killen was unfair, unjust and just wrong. The judge gave not only him but his cancer-stricken wife a death sentance for a crime that did not legally call for one. If a man was convected today of 3 counts of manslaughter they would not be given 3 consecutive 20 yr sentances. Killen is an eighty year old sick man and now our tax dollars will have to pay for his care instead of Killen paying for it.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:04:52 +0000

As I've noted, JJ is quite right about the law concerning the "send a message" charge to the jury. However, our appellate courts have managed to chop their logic pretty finely when they want to affirm a conviction. Very fact/result-intensive.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:01:13 +0000

I don't think it ever really got to a circus atmosphere, although that may be more due to the speed of the trial than anything else.

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:54:32 +0000

Yes it was 6 to 6 but in what combination? 6 for murder and 6 for manslaughter or 6 for murder and 6 for not guilty or...you cant assume that six jurors were for not-guilty. My guess is that it was 6 for murder and 6 for manslaughter and the 6 jurors for murder were persuaded to change their votes to manslaughter.