Post by Anja on Jun 21, 2006 1:02:07 GMT -5
Death penalty sought in Amber Alert killing
In Terre Haute, prosecutors filed a motion Monday seeking the death
penalty against a Vigo County man accused of abducting and stabbing his 2
young sons, 1 of whom died.
Katron Walker, 33, is charged with murder in the June 13 death of
4-year-old Collin Walker, who was found dead in a lake with a cut throat
and puncture wounds to his chest.
Vigo County prosecutor Bob Wright told Indianapolis television station
WTHR that he filed for the death penalty even though not all the victims'
family members favored the decision.
"I think that it's appropriate. I think that its required," he said.
"Philosophically, there are a lot of people opposed to the death penalty,
and I think that some of the members of that family are. But I think at
the same time they believe that the facts of this case do warrant it."
Vigo Superior Court Judge David Bolk had been scheduled to appoint a
public defender for Walker during a hearing Monday morning. But Indiana
law requires that death penalty defendants be represented by two attorneys
qualified in death penalty cases.
Bolk will appoint those attorneys during a hearing next Monday.
Walker, being held without bail, was charged with murder and attempted
murder after last weeks abduction of his sons, Collin and his 2-year-old
brother, Monte.
He was led into a Vigo County courtroom Monday wearing handcuffs, leg
shackles and a bulletproof vest.
Police issued an Amber Alert after Walker grabbed his sons from their
grandfather's backyard in Terre Haute the morning of June 13. That night,
police found the van Walker had been driving near a private lake in
Blackhawk in southwest Vigo County.
While dogs were searching the area, Walker ran from a rundown, abandoned
trailer and jumped into the water, dragging his naked children with him,
police said.
Officers jumped in after them and grabbed Monte Walker, but they could not
find Collin in the murky, dark lake. A dive team later found his body in
about 12 feet of water.
Monte Walker was hospitalized with cuts on his neck and puncture wounds in
his chest and later released.
(source: Associated Press)
In Terre Haute, prosecutors filed a motion Monday seeking the death
penalty against a Vigo County man accused of abducting and stabbing his 2
young sons, 1 of whom died.
Katron Walker, 33, is charged with murder in the June 13 death of
4-year-old Collin Walker, who was found dead in a lake with a cut throat
and puncture wounds to his chest.
Vigo County prosecutor Bob Wright told Indianapolis television station
WTHR that he filed for the death penalty even though not all the victims'
family members favored the decision.
"I think that it's appropriate. I think that its required," he said.
"Philosophically, there are a lot of people opposed to the death penalty,
and I think that some of the members of that family are. But I think at
the same time they believe that the facts of this case do warrant it."
Vigo Superior Court Judge David Bolk had been scheduled to appoint a
public defender for Walker during a hearing Monday morning. But Indiana
law requires that death penalty defendants be represented by two attorneys
qualified in death penalty cases.
Bolk will appoint those attorneys during a hearing next Monday.
Walker, being held without bail, was charged with murder and attempted
murder after last weeks abduction of his sons, Collin and his 2-year-old
brother, Monte.
He was led into a Vigo County courtroom Monday wearing handcuffs, leg
shackles and a bulletproof vest.
Police issued an Amber Alert after Walker grabbed his sons from their
grandfather's backyard in Terre Haute the morning of June 13. That night,
police found the van Walker had been driving near a private lake in
Blackhawk in southwest Vigo County.
While dogs were searching the area, Walker ran from a rundown, abandoned
trailer and jumped into the water, dragging his naked children with him,
police said.
Officers jumped in after them and grabbed Monte Walker, but they could not
find Collin in the murky, dark lake. A dive team later found his body in
about 12 feet of water.
Monte Walker was hospitalized with cuts on his neck and puncture wounds in
his chest and later released.
(source: Associated Press)