There are 35 states in the United States of America that currently have death penalty statutes on their books. Utah is the only state in American that still has uses a firing squad as a method of execution.
On Friday April 23, 2010, a judge in Utah agreed to an inmates request that the death penalty that was rendered against him be carried out, in what can be considered on old west style of justice, by firing squad.
Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49 years of age was given a choice as to how the death penalty would be carried out. His choice was either lethal injection or to be shot in front of a firing squad that included a team of five men. Death by firing squad is a carry over from Utah’s territorial history.
Mr. Gardner has been advised that his appeals have been exhausted. He was convicted of killing a lawyer during a shoot-out in April 2005. The shoot-out resulted from Mr. Gardner trying to escape. His execution is scheduled for June 18.
Query: Will it be televised?
The criminal defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Schlissel DeCorpo are available anytime at 800-344-6441 or by e-mail.
Picture courtesy of civilliberty.about.com.
