In the Bullpen » Judge Throws Out Death Sentence Because Jurors Consulted the Bible

Monday, March 28, 2005

Judge Throws Out Death Sentence Because Jurors Consulted the Bible

Filed under: U.S. News by Chad at 4:14 pm CST

This is a bit bizarre.

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Supreme Court threw out the death sentence Monday of a man convicted of raping and killing a cocktail waitress because jurors consulted the Bible during deliberations.

The court said Bible passages, including the verse that commands “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” could lead jurors to vote for death.

The justices ordered Robert Harlan to serve life in prison without parole for the 1994 slaying of Rhonda Maloney.

The judge overruled the sentence handed down by a “jury of his peers” because some jurors consulted the Bible in making their decision of the death penalty. Should judges throw out testimony for witnesses swearing on the Bible too?

Sphere It

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1 comment for Judge Throws Out Death Sentence Because Jurors Consulted the Bible

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It used to be that the government would ask a preacher to read the Bible and preach a Sermon at the execution.

Everyone listened and was blessed — or scared to death.

Now they throw out the Bible, throw out logic, and throw out the history books. AND — now they can make up any laws they want and YOU can’t stop them. Next thing you know — they will come after you and make up any law they want to starve YOU to death ….

Comment by doug — Tuesday, March 29, 2005 @ 8:53 pm CST