Two death penalty trials noted in DW’s last post have resolved with a sentence less than death.
In Buncombe County, a jury rejected first-degree murder and instead found Brandon Lee Gross guilty of second-degree murder. He will be sentenced to a term of years. Still no word from the local paper or TV stations.
In Alamance County, Dennis Alan Mills pleaded guilty and accepted a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors alleged that Mills shot two men to death following an argument over a sandwich. Mills previously served time for the shooting death of his uncle.
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Am glad to see that these men will not be going to death row. They may spend the rest of their lives locked up–Mills sure deserves to do so, after having killed THREE people–too bad they had to die b4 he gets locked up for good. His previous conviction would sure have played a part in sentencing in the double homicide that he pleaded guilty to–a serious aggravating factor there!
I know any # of people will ask, Why wasn’t he still locked up, after having killed his uncle?
There are a LOT of people in this country, in every state, who have convictions for murder that are out of prison, & you’d never know this by observing their behavior/conduct of their lives, their speech, etc. This man Mills is NOT one of those ex-convicts. So, the question becomes, Of the murderers that are released, which ones will commit another crime? The ones who won’t, & will lead law-abiding lives, good. But the ones who will not, ummm….ah….how do we tell them apart–which ex-convict is going to murder again, & which is not? Do we keep ALL who are convicted of murder locked up for life, bcz there’s bound to be SOME who’ll be repeat offenders. OR do we carefully screen people for parole/release to @ least TRY to determine whether s/he is still a threat to society?
There are also a lot of people who have been wrongly convicted and killed by the state you silly woman, Nothing is guaranteed we dont know everything theres no sure way to predict or analyse a situation You Americans need some help
Sasha;
You couldn’t get a witness from anyone who knows me that I’m “silly.”
You have advocated the chief/principal reason why I oppose capital punishment–the error that can be, & is, committed by those passing the sentence–the jury. Alan Gell of NC, & Kirk Bloodsworth of MD are just 2 men who spent years on death row whom the state itself came to agree that it had the WRONG MAN on The Row. That’s plenty enough for me to come out against it–you cannot reverse a death sentence once carried out. A life sentence, yes.
My point is, a murderer can be released & within a short time commit another one & land right back where s/he came from. Another murderer can be released & s/he never comes close to committing another murder–or any other crime.
How can the former be distinguished from the latter, such that the former never makes parole?
‘Tis the question…..
“He will be sentenced to a term of years”? What does that mean? How many years?
“A term of years” generally means that the criminal is eligible for neither capital punishment or a life sentence. S/he is sentenced to some years in prison, of which, in most states, s/he will have to do a portion, based on “good behavior” to be eligible for “early” release. Whatever the law/guidelines say the sentence should be, that the person is eligible for.
Ken, this article indicates that Gross will serve at least 36 years.
Thank you for the comment, Laureen. I want to note that many states, including North Carolina, have gotten rid of the concept of ‘good time.’ As I said above, Mr. Gross was sentenced to at least 36 years – he cannot serve less than that.