Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:54:32 GMT -5
Court upholds death sentence in killing of police officer
A state appeals court upheld Friday the death sentence given to Vernon
Madison for the 1985 slaying of a Mobile police officer.
Madison was convicted and sentenced to death three times for the slaying
of Officer Julius Schulte, who was shot to death when he answered a call
concerning a domestic dispute between Madison and his former girlfriend on
April 18, 1985.
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals rejected Madison's appeal, which
raised a number of issues, including that Madison did not receive adequate
representation at trial from his attorney. Madison is on his 2nd round of
appeals through the courts.
In another death penalty case, the appeals court ruled that Jeremiah
Jackson can't be executed for the April 15, 1996 shooting death of Vickie
Sides Carroll, a clerk at a Centreville convenience store, because he is
retarded. The court cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the
execution of mentally retarded defendants.
Prosecutors and attorneys for Jackson had agreed to stipulate that Jackson
was retarded and should not be executed. As part of the agreement, Jackson
agreed to drop further appeals and accept a sentence of life in prison
without parole. But a Bibb County judge refused to accept the agreement
and the case was appealed.
The appeals court ruled that Jackson is retarded and ordered the lower
court to set aside the death sentence.
A state appeals court upheld Friday the death sentence given to Vernon
Madison for the 1985 slaying of a Mobile police officer.
Madison was convicted and sentenced to death three times for the slaying
of Officer Julius Schulte, who was shot to death when he answered a call
concerning a domestic dispute between Madison and his former girlfriend on
April 18, 1985.
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals rejected Madison's appeal, which
raised a number of issues, including that Madison did not receive adequate
representation at trial from his attorney. Madison is on his 2nd round of
appeals through the courts.
In another death penalty case, the appeals court ruled that Jeremiah
Jackson can't be executed for the April 15, 1996 shooting death of Vickie
Sides Carroll, a clerk at a Centreville convenience store, because he is
retarded. The court cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the
execution of mentally retarded defendants.
Prosecutors and attorneys for Jackson had agreed to stipulate that Jackson
was retarded and should not be executed. As part of the agreement, Jackson
agreed to drop further appeals and accept a sentence of life in prison
without parole. But a Bibb County judge refused to accept the agreement
and the case was appealed.
The appeals court ruled that Jackson is retarded and ordered the lower
court to set aside the death sentence.