Death Penalty: let’s take up a collection
When a big crime happens in a small place, locals are often shocked by the price tag for bringing justice to the accused. This is especially true in death penalty cases, as I have discussed before.
Well one attorney and lawmaker wants to make sure that budget woes do not keep his community from killing:
A Delaware County commissioner has promised to help fund pursuit of the death penalty against a man charged in the fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk.
Commissioner John Brooke, an attorney and former deputy prosecutor, recently wrote to County Prosecutor Richard Reed and offered to try to secure money to seek the death penalty for Ronald Hatfield, who is charged with murder in the Dec. 16 shooting of Carolyn Goodwin, a Rickers convenience store clerk.
“You have my complete support and assistance to help fund the prosecution of Ronnie Hatfield if you decide to seek the death penalty,” Brooke wrote.
Hatfield’s attorney was a little take aback by the this gallows funding offer:
Alan Wilson, Hatfield’s public defender, said he had not heard of Brooke’s offer until contacted by The Star Press.
“I guess my reaction is, whatever happened to the presumption of innocence?” asked Wilson.
The prosecutor says he is still reviewing the case. Link.
