Life The Death Penalty - Page 27

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-07-2008, 09:48 AM

A friend of my parents is sentenced to be executed in a couple of weeks for being an accomplice in a murder in 1994. You can read the details of the incident below (written by his wife), and sign the petition if you feel inclined to do so. We are petitioning for his sentence to be changed to life in prison without parole, rather than death.

On Friday, despite the fact that we have two issues before the court, the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date of Aug. 27. For those of you who would like to do anything to help try to prevent this state from killing my husband, your help is welcome and there are some fairly simple things you can do. For those who are not aware of the facts of the case, here are some main points:Allen Nicklasson, the man who shot and killed Richard Drummond in Aug. 1994 did so on his own after leaving Dennis behind in the stolen car. Allen has been consistent in telling the truth since day one - with his friends and close acquaintances, as well as with law enforcement - that Dennis had absolutely no idea that when Allen walked Drummond into the woods, Allen was going to shoot him. Allen had planned to tie Drummond up so that by the time Drummond could free himself and walk into town to all police, Allen, Dennis and Tim DeGraffenreid would be back in Blue Springs, hiding out.Instead, Allen decided to kill Drummond. His statements to police have been consistent and truthful, but the state successfully kept Allen from testifying in trial. The jury never heard the truth and thus convicted Dennis for first-degree murder as an accomplice. Allen has tried through the years to be heard in court, but the appellate courts denied him that right as well. We are still trying to get the Supreme Court to look at Allen's statements. Dennis is not an innocent victim, but he is innocent of first-degree murder. We are not asking that he be freed. We believe the sentence of death is excessive in this case, and that society would be safe and justice would be served through clemency, which means we want the governor to change Dennis' sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.In addition, Dennis has been actively involved in restorative justice even before the program was established at Potosi Correctional Center. He is the editor of Compassion, a publication written and edited by death row inmates across the country who have raised more than $34,000 in college scholarships for family members of murdered victims. This scholarship goes to family members regardless of their stance on the death penalty. For example, Zach Osbourne, one of the recipients, supports the death penalty openly and is going to school to become a police officer. Dennis compiled a book, "Today's Choices Affect Tomorrow's Dreams," that is distributed for free to juvenile centers around the country. The book has been so popular, he has been asked to do another. That book is currently being compiled.Dennis is chairman of the prison's Hospice group and has cared for many dying prison patients through the years. He is a co-founder of 4-H LIFE, a family strengthening program that teaches inmates to be better parents and includes a family 4-H meeting each month inside the prison. As a former president and officer of 4-H, Dennis has led fundraisers to send money to children's programs in the state and to send 4-H LIFE members to summer camp and state leadership programs. 4-H LIFE has won several awards and is now active in several other prisons.Dennis has actively worked to build bridges between the Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Islamic and Native American religious groups at the prison. He is a founder of the Charity Carnival - in its second year - that raises money inside the prison for charitable organizations. The carnival is today, but he is locked up and cannot carry out his responsibilities for that event.Dennis speaks to university student groups on a regular basis to give them insight into the death penalty and prison life. He is, and remains, a positive spokesman and positive role models for other prisoners.He is a leader in the Set Free Ministry, a prison ministry that works with thousands of inmates in Missouri and Illinois to help them in their Christian walk. The Ministry has grown from an office of three to an office of around 20 inmates at PCC and a second office in Charleston's prison. The Ministry continues to expand in prisons in the two states as well as into jails.All of this is documented, not the exaggerated account of a wife desperate to save her husband.For those of you who have asked, I am terrified, but determined to fight for justice for my family. Murdering my husband is not justice - it is harming me, my son, Dennis' sisters, brother, nephews, aunts uncles, friends, etc. He is my soulmate, for those of you who understand what that means. A date is an extremely serious situation, but we have issues to pursue and this does not mean we're done. Please do not assume that this is inevitable, even though we have a very, very difficult fight in the next 32 days.I appreciate your support in any way. Should you want to write letters, file amicus briefs (friend of the court) with your church or other organization, let me know and I'll give you more info. If you choose to pray, please ask God to intervene and see that Dennis receives a lesser sentence.Thanks.

You can sign the petition at the link below. Thanks.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-dennis-skillicorn

DenverChief · 05-05-2009, 11:30 AM

I am not a big fan of the Death Penalty either, but I'm not going to sign your petition. Sorry there are more worthy causes

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245943635.html

DenverChief · 05-05-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Yeesh, didn't even notice that this was an old thread.

Sounds like the ole gene pool is going to get a bit of chlorine added.

you and me both buddy

oaklandhater · 05-05-2009, 12:09 PM

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/den...grant-clemency

Pretty sad

Dennis Skillicorn has been sentenced to be executed on May 20th, 2009

I hope the family gets some relief on the 20th.

wild1 · 05-05-2009, 02:10 PM

Nobody gave Richard Drummond clemency.

KCChiefsMan · 05-05-2009, 02:26 PM

Ya, I won't be signing that petition. It looks like he had a chance to get out of there after they already killed people who tried to help them. Screw that, but I think the death penalty should be used more often and I sure as hell don't want taxpayers to have to pay 40K extra per year to keep him alive.

Time's Yours · 05-05-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

Ya, I won't be signing that petition. It looks like he had a chance to get out of there after they already killed people who tried to help them. Screw that, but I think the death penalty should be used more often and I sure as hell don't want taxpayers to have to pay 40K extra per year to keep him alive.

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

**Skip Towne** · 05-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillip

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

The obvious solution is to convict 'em then take 'em out back and shoot 'em.

Frazod · 05-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillip

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

That's because it isn't done right. It should cost no more than a single round of ammunition. Even less than that if choose a reusable method, such as hanging, or beheading, or even a big damn rock.

Brock · 05-05-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillip

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

Let's fix how much it costs.

SenselessChiefsFan · 05-05-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I'm interested in the "soulmate" aspect of this. I love my wife, but if she were ever to be involved in murder, let alone multiple such crimes, she would neither see nor hear from me again.

What say you Planet?

For better or worse. It would really depend on the circumstances. Under THESE circumstances, I would, at the very least, reconsider the soulmate ideal.

wild1 · 05-05-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillip

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

You are telling me that housing someone at state expense for 40 years is cheaper than a court appointed lawyer running appeals? I don't believe that.

Besides if it's too expensive we should fix that instead of suspending justice.

Spott · 05-05-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Good. They should have fried the sonofabitch a long time ago.

Agreed. ****er should have been worm food long ago.

KCChiefsMan · 05-05-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillip

Death penalty is no cheaper than a life sentence. Years of appeals, usually by appointed counsel, etc.

true, thats because the system is stupid

DenverChief · 05-05-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

You are telling me that housing someone at state expense for 40 years is cheaper than a court appointed lawyer running appeals? I don't believe that.

Besides if it's too expensive we should fix that instead of suspending justice.

In its review of death penalty expenses, the State of Kansas concluded that capital cases are 70% more expensive than comparable non-death penalty cases. The study counted death penalty case costs through to execution and found that the median death penalty case costs $1.26 million. Non-death penalty cases were counted through to the end of incarceration and were found to have a median cost of $740,000. For death penalty cases, the pre-trial and trial level expenses were the most expensive part, 49% of the total cost. The costs of appeals were 29% of the total expense, and the incarceration and execution costs accounted for the remaining 22%. In comparison to non-death penalty cases, the following findings were revealed:

The investigation costs for death-sentence cases were about 3 times greater than for non-death cases.

The trial costs for death cases were about 16 times greater than for non-death cases ($508,000 for death case; $32,000 for non-death case).

The appeal costs for death cases were 21 times greater.

The costs of carrying out (i.e. incarceration and/or execution) a death sentence were about half the costs of carrying out a non-death sentence in a comparable case.

Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/1080

Brock · 05-05-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Trials involving a death sentence averaged 34 days, including jury selection; non-death trials averaged about 9 days.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/1080

That's how long it should take to execute them, at most.

08-07-2008, 09:48 AM
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $9915644	The Death Penalty A friend of my parents is sentenced to be executed in a couple of weeks for being an accomplice in a murder in 1994. You can read the details of the incident below (written by his wife), and sign the petition if you feel inclined to do so. We are petitioning for his sentence to be changed to life in prison without parole, rather than death. On Friday, despite the fact that we have two issues before the court, the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date of Aug. 27. For those of you who would like to do anything to help try to prevent this state from killing my husband, your help is welcome and there are some fairly simple things you can do. For those who are not aware of the facts of the case, here are some main points:Allen Nicklasson, the man who shot and killed Richard Drummond in Aug. 1994 did so on his own after leaving Dennis behind in the stolen car. Allen has been consistent in telling the truth since day one - with his friends and close acquaintances, as well as with law enforcement - that Dennis had absolutely no idea that when Allen walked Drummond into the woods, Allen was going to shoot him. Allen had planned to tie Drummond up so that by the time Drummond could free himself and walk into town to all police, Allen, Dennis and Tim DeGraffenreid would be back in Blue Springs, hiding out.Instead, Allen decided to kill Drummond. His statements to police have been consistent and truthful, but the state successfully kept Allen from testifying in trial. The jury never heard the truth and thus convicted Dennis for first-degree murder as an accomplice. Allen has tried through the years to be heard in court, but the appellate courts denied him that right as well. We are still trying to get the Supreme Court to look at Allen's statements. Dennis is not an innocent victim, but he is innocent of first-degree murder. We are not asking that he be freed. We believe the sentence of death is excessive in this case, and that society would be safe and justice would be served through clemency, which means we want the governor to change Dennis' sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.In addition, Dennis has been actively involved in restorative justice even before the program was established at Potosi Correctional Center. He is the editor of Compassion, a publication written and edited by death row inmates across the country who have raised more than $34,000 in college scholarships for family members of murdered victims. This scholarship goes to family members regardless of their stance on the death penalty. For example, Zach Osbourne, one of the recipients, supports the death penalty openly and is going to school to become a police officer. Dennis compiled a book, "Today's Choices Affect Tomorrow's Dreams," that is distributed for free to juvenile centers around the country. The book has been so popular, he has been asked to do another. That book is currently being compiled.Dennis is chairman of the prison's Hospice group and has cared for many dying prison patients through the years. He is a co-founder of 4-H LIFE, a family strengthening program that teaches inmates to be better parents and includes a family 4-H meeting each month inside the prison. As a former president and officer of 4-H, Dennis has led fundraisers to send money to children's programs in the state and to send 4-H LIFE members to summer camp and state leadership programs. 4-H LIFE has won several awards and is now active in several other prisons.Dennis has actively worked to build bridges between the Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Islamic and Native American religious groups at the prison. He is a founder of the Charity Carnival - in its second year - that raises money inside the prison for charitable organizations. The carnival is today, but he is locked up and cannot carry out his responsibilities for that event.Dennis speaks to university student groups on a regular basis to give them insight into the death penalty and prison life. He is, and remains, a positive spokesman and positive role models for other prisoners.He is a leader in the Set Free Ministry, a prison ministry that works with thousands of inmates in Missouri and Illinois to help them in their Christian walk. The Ministry has grown from an office of three to an office of around 20 inmates at PCC and a second office in Charleston's prison. The Ministry continues to expand in prisons in the two states as well as into jails.All of this is documented, not the exaggerated account of a wife desperate to save her husband.For those of you who have asked, I am terrified, but determined to fight for justice for my family. Murdering my husband is not justice - it is harming me, my son, Dennis' sisters, brother, nephews, aunts uncles, friends, etc. He is my soulmate, for those of you who understand what that means. A date is an extremely serious situation, but we have issues to pursue and this does not mean we're done. Please do not assume that this is inevitable, even though we have a very, very difficult fight in the next 32 days.I appreciate your support in any way. Should you want to write letters, file amicus briefs (friend of the court) with your church or other organization, let me know and I'll give you more info. If you choose to pray, please ask God to intervene and see that Dennis receives a lesser sentence.Thanks. You can sign the petition at the link below. Thanks. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-dennis-skillicorn
Posts: 13,675

05-05-2009, 11:30 AM	#391
DenverChief Pedantic Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rocky Ford Casino cash: $3072617	I am not a big fan of the Death Penalty either, but I'm not going to sign your petition. Sorry there are more worthy causes http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245943635.html
Posts: 17,051

05-05-2009, 12:09 PM	#393
oaklandhater future chiefs fans Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oakland california Casino cash: $5788993	http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/den...grant-clemency Pretty sad Dennis Skillicorn has been sentenced to be executed on May 20th, 2009 I hope the family gets some relief on the 20th.
Posts: 24,003

05-05-2009, 02:10 PM	#394
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	Nobody gave Richard Drummond clemency.
Posts: 6,935

05-05-2009, 02:26 PM	#395
KCChiefsMan AIC Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Roxbury, MA Casino cash: $10004900	Ya, I won't be signing that petition. It looks like he had a chance to get out of there after they already killed people who tried to help them. Screw that, but I think the death penalty should be used more often and I sure as hell don't want taxpayers to have to pay 40K extra per year to keep him alive.
Posts: 11,478