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Dennis Skillicorn Update: A Temporary Reprieve
By John W. Kennedy | August 25, 2008
For those of you who have been following the travails of death row inmate Dennis Skillicorn, his execution scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed. The Missouri Supreme Court has delayed the capital punishment for at least 30 days while attorneys for Dennis prepare a clemency petition.
The case continues to draw considerable coverage in the press. In an editorial, The St. Louis Post Dispatch argues that Dennis shouldn’t be put to death not so much because he is a model Christian prisoner but rather that he was half a mile away when the murder of Richard Drummond took place. The newspaper urges Gov. Matt Blunt to not send Dennis to his death for a murder he didn’t commit.
Meanwhile, the governor wrote a letter to me saying he still favors the death penalty as a deterrent, but that he will carefully study all aspects of the case.
Topics: prison |
August 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Looks like the letter is a form letter sent out to anyone that takes the time to write in opposing the execution. A jury of 12 decided this criminal took part in the murder of an innocent Richard Drummond. Who cares weather he directly participated or ordered the execution. This criminal took part and if it were not for his actions Drummond would be alive today. Skillicorn deserves to die!
August 25th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Bill asks “Who cares whether he directly participated?” What kind of logic is that? Anyone who seeks justice should care who actually perpetrated the crime — and in this case, Dennis Skillicorn did NOT. That fact has been made clear time and time again, but it falls on deaf ears.
No man should have to die for a murder he did not actually commit. Life in prison without parole, yes. But not death by lethal injection.
Jesus has compassion on us, and because of His great love, we do not have to pay the penalty for our sins. Should we not, if we call ourselves Christian, have compassion for a brother in Christ whose life has been redeemed as ours has?
August 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Yea, I kind of have to agree with Bill on this on. Skillicorne was convicted and Gov. Blunt is upholding the law.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Yes, Governor Blunt is upholding the law; however, the law is not infallible. It’s part of our duty as citizens to check the system. Put your father, brother, cousin, friend, whomever in Dennis Skillicorn’s shoes. Maybe then the injustice will become clear.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Too late. He’s been convicted by his peers, and what is done is done. No amount of political posturing or cries of “he’s reformed” will change this. If he is truly now a Christian, perhaps he should accept his punishment for his deeds. Blunt was right on this; any other move would set a bad precedent that would open the flood-gates in a bad, bad way.