John Evander Couey, the man convicted in the heinous kidnapping and murder of 9 year old Jessica Lunsford will more than likely be sentenced to death- if the judge proceeds with following the recommendation of the jury which convicted him.
One of the more interesting comments from the proceedings:
Justice is not vengeance? I have to stand back and wonder if he would prefer justice to be forgiving and considerate. Seeking the death penalty in the case, or even recommending it for that matter, was not a act of vengeance- it was clearly the only solution that could even come close to being real justice for a little girl stolen from those that loved her, and then cruelly buried alive after experiencing the more horrific of crimes.
The jury, on a 10-2 vote, brushed aside pleas for mercy and a life sentence from defense lawyers based on claims that John Evander Couey, 48, is mentally retarded and suffers from chronic mental illness. Jurors deliberated for about one hour.
The final decision on Couey's fate will be made in several weeks by Circuit Judge Richard Howard, who is not bound by the jury's recommendation but is required to give it "great weight."
One of the more interesting comments from the proceedings:
"No matter what you do, John Couey is going to die in prison," said defense attorney Alan Fanter. "No child should have to die the way Jessica Lunsford did. But justice is not vengeance."
Justice is not vengeance? I have to stand back and wonder if he would prefer justice to be forgiving and considerate. Seeking the death penalty in the case, or even recommending it for that matter, was not a act of vengeance- it was clearly the only solution that could even come close to being real justice for a little girl stolen from those that loved her, and then cruelly buried alive after experiencing the more horrific of crimes.