Was This Warranted Or Necessary?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

First she was not retarded, stop the misinformation. Second the fact that she was a grandma is not relevant stop trying to play the sympathy card.

Planning a multiple murder that is carried out makes you eligible for the death penalty in Virginia and many other places, you are just as guilty as the one who pulls the trigger.

Yes her execution was warranted. She violated the law, she was caught, she was convicted. The level of danger one is to society is not the only, and never should be, the only factor in earning the death penalty. Yes i said earned, she worked for it, she earned it. Give her what is due her.

If you say she was almost retarded again, I am going to call you a almost retarded. She was not retarded and saying she was is a LIE and deliberate misinformation. Not having a high learning capacity is not the same as not being aware of what you are doing. You trying to present a picture of someone that walks around drooling and doesn't know where she is. Individuals with a 70 IQ don't qualify for special education in many state public schools. Stop buying into the media hype about this woman.

Teresa Lewis, 41, Grandma, with an IQ of 70, MASTERMINDED the murders of her husband and step son.


The State of Virgina can sleep better knowing that this evil, manipulating, and caniving, mentally deficient Grandmother is dead.

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

First she was not retarded, stop the misinformation. Second the fact that she was a grandma is not relevant stop trying to play the sympathy card.

Planning a multiple murder that is carried out makes you eligible for the death penalty in Virginia and many other places, you are just as guilty as the one who pulls the trigger.

Yes her execution was warranted. She violated the law, she was caught, she was convicted. The level of danger one is to society is not the only, and never should be, the only factor in earning the death penalty. Yes i said earned, she worked for it, she earned it. Give her what is due her.

If you say she was almost retarded again, I am going to call you a almost retarded. She was not retarded and saying she was is a LIE and deliberate misinformation. Not having a high learning capacity is not the same as not being aware of what you are doing. You trying to present a picture of someone that walks around drooling and doesn't know where she is. Individuals with a 70 IQ don't qualify for special education in many state public schools. Stop buying into the media hype about this woman.

I couldn't and wouldn't disagree with any of this. But I have a question for you coming from a legal standpoint. What if a person IS mentally handicapped and commits terrible murders. In your opinion, should they be eligible for capital punishment? And if not, what punishment should be given them? If you're of the opinion they shouldn't qualify for the death penalty, should they qualify for any kind of punishment? If they can't be executed, what can happen to them that is fair?

I struggle with the death penalty in general. I know what the Old Testament says, but the OT says a lot of things! I oppose strongly oppose abortion and find it hard to cheer the death penalty. It's not about one being guilty and one being innocent, it's the struggle I have with the taking of a life.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

I.Q. is not always an indicator of ability to understand right from wrong. What was that guys name from the movie "the blind side" ? His "I.Q." went up 30 points with a college education.

I.Q. tests often return low scores for uneducated people, that doesn't make them unable to know right from wrong, stand trial, or know the consequences of their actions. In her case She was found to be competent both to stand trial and that she knew what she was doing when she planned the murder.

I believe justice was served in this case, I have no reservations. There was no doubt she organized and planned the death of two innocent people. In a case like this there was no doubt she was involved in the murder. The only ones claiming she was not responsible for her actions were people with an agenda, her lawyer and those who oppose the death penalty for any reason.

The fact that the other two only received a life sentence is not relevant. Each defendant is entitled to his or her own trial and the outcome need not be the same for justice to be served. Has anyone taken the time to see why they received life?

Oh and Codie do me a favor and just shut your pie hole. I hate having to defend a position after you come in and post the... the... the... stuff you do that just makes no sense at all. Talk about a legend in your own mind. sheesh.

That's my thoughts. I think this is another case of an argument by emotions on the part of her law team or representatives to portray this act of justice as unjust because she is mentally challenged.

I found it hard to accept that someone that is classified by society as "retarded" could orchestrate this. Also I was wondering, what was the husbands IQ? IF she was mentally challenged, was he too? Not that a person that is not mentally challenged couldn't possibly be interested in a relationship with someone that is...but I'd have to wonder what they had in common

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

First she was not retarded, stop the misinformation. Second the fact that she was a grandma is not relevant stop trying to play the sympathy card.

Planning a multiple murder that is carried out makes you eligible for the death penalty in Virginia and many other places, you are just as guilty as the one who pulls the trigger.

Yes her execution was warranted. She violated the law, she was caught, she was convicted. The level of danger one is to society is not the only, and never should be, the only factor in earning the death penalty. Yes i said earned, she worked for it, she earned it. Give her what is due her.

If you say she was almost retarded again, I am going to call you a almost retarded. She was not retarded and saying she was is a LIE and deliberate misinformation. Not having a high learning capacity is not the same as not being aware of what you are doing. You trying to present a picture of someone that walks around drooling and doesn't know where she is. Individuals with a 70 IQ don't qualify for special education in many state public schools. Stop buying into the media hype about this woman.

This is what I deal with a lot and Im sure you have too....ignore the facts, go by your emotions. Emotions are subjective. We have laws for a reason

[Praxeas]

I wonder how many "retards" there are that play the banjo...j/k

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Teresa Lewis, 41, Grandma, with an IQ of 70, MASTERMINDED the murders of her husband and step son.


The State of Virgina can sleep better knowing that this evil, manipulating, and caniving, mentally deficient Grandmother is dead.

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!

In other words, ignore the facts, ignore the law, hand your brain over to the man with the slicked back hair and his miracle tonic

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

I couldn't and wouldn't disagree with any of this. But I have a question for you coming from a legal standpoint. What if a person IS mentally handicapped and commits terrible murders. In your opinion, should they be eligible for capital punishment? And if not, what punishment should be given them? If you're of the opinion they shouldn't qualify for the death penalty, should they qualify for any kind of punishment? If they can't be executed, what can happen to them that is fair?

I struggle with the death penalty in general. I know what the Old Testament says, but the OT says a lot of things! I oppose strongly oppose abortion and find it hard to cheer the death penalty. It's not about one being guilty and one being innocent, it's the struggle I have with the taking of a life.

The law has rules about the mental state of individuals committing a crime like murder, actually depending on which stay it is one of four rules, to determine if they should be punished or simply committed until either they are well enough not commit such a crime again.

1. M'Naghten Rule - If an individual has a mental disease or defect that caused them to either, not know his act would be wrong or understand the nature and quality of his actions.

2. Irresistible Impulse Test - because of mental illness they were unable to control their actions or conform their conduct to the law.

3. Durham Test - Crime was the product of their mental illness. This is a very broad test basically the crime would not have been committed had the individual not been mentally ill.

4. Model Penal Code - The individual lacked the substantial capacity to either: appreciate the criminality of their conduct; Conform their conduct to the requirements of the law;

In the opinion of the law if someone commits murder and is likely to do it again because of their mental state they are justified in locking them up to keep society safe but not execute them.

I don't have a problem with the death penalty any more than I have a problem with a soldier killing an enemy combatant. Both are sanctioned killings by the state and the proper roll of the state but not the proper roll of individuals acting alone. A soldier will be prosecuted for killing outside the bounds of what he is authorized to do. Individuals cannot kill someone because that person has killed someone else only the state can do that. The fact that the state may have wrongly executed someone (this happens less often then opponents would have you believe) doesn't negate their right and obligation to do so any more than a states misuse of taxes removes their right to tax its citizens.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Teresa Lewis, 41, Grandma, with an IQ of 70, MASTERMINDED the murders of her husband and step son.


The State of Virgina can sleep better knowing that this evil, manipulating, and caniving, mentally deficient Grandmother is dead.

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!

Perhaps your reading comprehension is being affected by your emotions. The article didn't even say she had an IQ of 70 it actually said she had an IQ NEAR 70, in other words we are rounding down to make our story more convincing.

You're right, the state of Virginia can sleep better knowing that a woman who was willing to kill two innocent people for an insurance settlement is not out there to do the same thing to someone else. What you are wrong about is that being stupid is the same as being unable to appreciate right from wrong. Just because the highest job you may have is working at McDonalds or greeting people at Walmart doesn't mean you can kill people.

You are apparently mentally deficient since you can't get over the irrelevant fact that she was a grandmother. That fact alone will not save you from execution however if you choose to commit a murder.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by CC1

I have read a pretty detailed account of her crimes and they were cold blooded premeditated murder. Not some spontaneous crime of passion from some mentally disabled person.

While her stepson died quickly from the bullets from her young lovers gun her husband was shot with a shotgun and died a much slower agonizing death. He was still alive when the police got there and told them that his wife knew who shot him before he died.

The statement her attorney released after her death would be considered laughable except glorifying a double murderer is too sick to laugh at. He said - “Tonight, the machinery of death in Virginia extinguished the beautiful, childlike, and loving human spirit of Teresa Lewis."

Her deceased husband and stepson might differ a bit with that characterization of her but sadly they are not here to challenge it SINCE SHE KILLED THEM!!!!

Her execution was just punishment for a horrific crime. I hope she made things right with the Lord and is on the streets of glory. If not she not only met her earthly punishment for her actions but has now answered to the judge of us all for them as well.

CC1, you always seem to vote like this. Maybe your sig line should read "Kill da bums!!!".

[ILG]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Me too, but she was guilty of murder; and despite her "IQ of 70" she was found to be mentally capable of organizing the brutal killings. Her statements in the papers appear to be those of a reasonably "aware" and cognizant person.

There have been several posters on AFF over the years who couldn't string together thoughts as coherently as this woman did.

I'm really am torn on this particular issue - Capital Punishment; but this person certainly appears to have deserved the punishment for the crime of First Degree Murder - whatever just and reasonable punishment the judge and the Commonwealth of Virginia decide is best for that particular crime.

You got Ted Bundy and you got this woman. I'd say one probably needed to die and the other did not.