Post by Anja on Jun 24, 2006 20:39:24 GMT -5
Convicted Arkansas killer recommended for clemency
Convicted killer Kenneth Slocum's life-without-parole sentence should be
commuted to 60 years, the state Parole Board recommended Thursday in a
unanimous vote.
The board noted that 70 people - including a nephew of the murder victim -
showed up to support Slocum, who the board said denied having killed the
man he was convicted of slaying, but was remorseful.
Slocum, 34, was convicted of capital murder in the 1993 death of Willie
Simpkins and sentenced to life without parole. The state appeals court and
Arkansas Supreme Court have both denied Slocum's request for a new trial.
But he was able to get the board recommendation on his argument to
"correct an injustice."
"I was arrested on Nov. 15, 1993, and charged with this murder," Slocum
wrote in his clemency application. "To this day, I don't have any
knowledge of what caused Mr. Simpkins' death."
Rhonda Sharp, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Correction,
said more than 70 people showed up to an inmate hearing in support of
Slocum's clemency.
The parole board noted that "the inmate is very remorseful (and) denies
involvement in his crime," Sharp said. "The board also noted that the
victim's nephew spoke in favor of the inmate's clemency."
Prosecutors alleged that Slocum killed Simpkins because Simpkins was going
to be a witness in the trial of Slocum's brother, Marcus, who was accused
of murder. But Kenneth Slocum, who represented himself and submitted court
transcripts with his handwritten notations, said that Simpkins had told a
detective that he couldn't identify Marcus Slocum.
Kenneth Slocum argued that this meant he had no motive to kill Simpkins.
He also argued that now retired Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge David
Bogard displayed prejudice against him in pre-trial hearings when
attorneys were discussing whether the death penalty would be waived.
"That's up to the prosecutor," Bogard said, according to a court
transcript submitted to the parole board by Slocum. "If they want to send
him to the chair, electrocute him or inject him, whatever they want to do
to kill him, that's their business."
A witness, Vernon Scott, said Slocum gave him $40 worth of crack cocaine
in return for luring Simpkins to the Little Rock residence where he was
later kidnapped and killed. Simpkins' nude body was found in a grain
elevator Oct. 4, 1993.
Slocum has exhausted his appeals; the state appeals court and Arkansas
Supreme Court have upheld his capital murder conviction. However, in a
later appeal, a lower court ruled that Slocum had ineffective counsel at
his original trial, but the state Supreme Court overturned that decision.
The parole board's recommendation is now open to public comment for the
next 30 days. After that, Slocum's file will be sent to Gov. Mike
Huckabee, who will decide whether to grant the clemency request.
"Most people seem to view the board's recommendation as binding," Sharp
said. "That is the governor's final decision. Parole is not a right. It's
a privilege."
(source : Associated Press)
Convicted killer Kenneth Slocum's life-without-parole sentence should be
commuted to 60 years, the state Parole Board recommended Thursday in a
unanimous vote.
The board noted that 70 people - including a nephew of the murder victim -
showed up to support Slocum, who the board said denied having killed the
man he was convicted of slaying, but was remorseful.
Slocum, 34, was convicted of capital murder in the 1993 death of Willie
Simpkins and sentenced to life without parole. The state appeals court and
Arkansas Supreme Court have both denied Slocum's request for a new trial.
But he was able to get the board recommendation on his argument to
"correct an injustice."
"I was arrested on Nov. 15, 1993, and charged with this murder," Slocum
wrote in his clemency application. "To this day, I don't have any
knowledge of what caused Mr. Simpkins' death."
Rhonda Sharp, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Correction,
said more than 70 people showed up to an inmate hearing in support of
Slocum's clemency.
The parole board noted that "the inmate is very remorseful (and) denies
involvement in his crime," Sharp said. "The board also noted that the
victim's nephew spoke in favor of the inmate's clemency."
Prosecutors alleged that Slocum killed Simpkins because Simpkins was going
to be a witness in the trial of Slocum's brother, Marcus, who was accused
of murder. But Kenneth Slocum, who represented himself and submitted court
transcripts with his handwritten notations, said that Simpkins had told a
detective that he couldn't identify Marcus Slocum.
Kenneth Slocum argued that this meant he had no motive to kill Simpkins.
He also argued that now retired Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge David
Bogard displayed prejudice against him in pre-trial hearings when
attorneys were discussing whether the death penalty would be waived.
"That's up to the prosecutor," Bogard said, according to a court
transcript submitted to the parole board by Slocum. "If they want to send
him to the chair, electrocute him or inject him, whatever they want to do
to kill him, that's their business."
A witness, Vernon Scott, said Slocum gave him $40 worth of crack cocaine
in return for luring Simpkins to the Little Rock residence where he was
later kidnapped and killed. Simpkins' nude body was found in a grain
elevator Oct. 4, 1993.
Slocum has exhausted his appeals; the state appeals court and Arkansas
Supreme Court have upheld his capital murder conviction. However, in a
later appeal, a lower court ruled that Slocum had ineffective counsel at
his original trial, but the state Supreme Court overturned that decision.
The parole board's recommendation is now open to public comment for the
next 30 days. After that, Slocum's file will be sent to Gov. Mike
Huckabee, who will decide whether to grant the clemency request.
"Most people seem to view the board's recommendation as binding," Sharp
said. "That is the governor's final decision. Parole is not a right. It's
a privilege."
(source : Associated Press)