Death Penalty USA 2003 - 2004

PREFACE

The taking of a human life is in all circumstances reprehensible and must be punished within the confines of the law.

The basic concept underlying the Eighth Amendment is nothing less than the dignity of man. While the State has the power to punish, the Amendment stands to assure that this power be exercised within the limits of civilized standards. (Trop v. Dulles (1958) 356 U.S. 86, 100)

This is the second book in a series of books providing a brief history of 21st century capital-punishment cases in the United States. Each volume in the series begins with an overview of capital punishment in the United States and follows with the case histories of a single year of executions. These books are not intended to be easy reading. The crimes for which the death penalty was imposed are truly horrific and described in graphic detail based on public record. Compilations are taken from and referenced to case citations. Original names and places are retained. Some cases are necessarily more comprehensive than others. In general, high profile murders and those involving multiple victims, difficult conviction, and vigorous defenses have more extensive records than capital crimes involving the murder of a homeless person or a clerk during a convenience store robbery. Cases where the conviction is based on circumstantial evidence tend to be more detailed than those based on voluntary confessions. Each case history is written in a nonsensationalized way that is respectful of all those touched by death. Supplemental information such as a condemned prisoner’s last meal and last words are included when such material is insightful. The names of the executed prisoners are indexed chronologically in the Table of Contents. A reference list and an Index are provided.

Michelangelo Delfino and Mary E. Day
10 March 2008