Now that you have information about the death penalty and the insanity plea in Kansas, do Dick and Perry qualify for: 1) the death penalty, and 2) an insanity plea? Explain.
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Due: Thursday, Oct. 20 before 11 PM
6 comments:
Dick and perry are both eligible for the death penalty. The state of kansas has abolished the insanity defence so neither of them could use that. There is overwhelming evidence that Dick and Perry committed multiple murders, and stole from the Clutters after planning it out first. Kansas state law requires the death penalty for robbery/homicide, multiple homicides, and pre meditaded murder. All of which dick and perry were guilty of. Furthermore dick would definately get the death penalty because he was the one who basically comissioned Perry to kill them. The letter he wrote to perry to get him to come and commit the crime with him, and the testimony of Dick's former cell mate provide enough evidence to convict him of such a crime.
Kansas law states that in order to receive the death penalty it needs to be a case where intentional or premeditated murder takes place and also needs to include another factor such as the the murder of more then one person during a single act or multiple acts included in the same plan of action. Dick and Perry’s case would quality for getting sentenced to the death penalty. They committed a premeditated murder of multiple people. The reader knows the act was premeditated because of the quote on page 37 when Dick was talking about how there would be “ no witnesses”. In my opinion I feel that the death penalty is not only a fair punishment for Dick and Perry, but the one that seems to be the best fit for the acts that they committed , but also the one i this is most deserved by Dick and Perry.
Kansas law for 2011 does not allow for anyone to have an insanity plea, they have abolished mental insanity as a defense. When using an insanity defense, a defendant can claim they lacked the mental capacity to realize they what they did was wrong or do not understand why their actions were wrong. Therefore even if Dick and Perry would be able to use an insanity plea for defense in a Kansas court room in 2011, i simply do not feel that Dick and Perry would of been able to use this as a defense. They were aware of their actions, the crime was premeditated and they took much time and care in preparing for the act. They also had moments of regret and questioning their actions, during the actual crime and also afterwards. Dick and Perry were fully aware of their actions throughout the book, I do not feel they would fit the description of someone who could plea insanity.
In Kansas, the death penalty has been abolished and reinstated 3 different times. The death penalty is extremely controversial in this midwest state they were one vote short of abolishing the penalty and ordering life in prison without parole to those who qualified to receive the penalty. Kansas was the last state to reinstate the death penalty in the modern era, however, they have not executed an inmate since 1965, the year Dick and Perry were executed. The death penalty is on the table when someone is convicted guilty of aggravated murder, and very rarely for felony murder. Because Dick and Perry committed such a torturous, violent act of murder, they deserved the death penalty. People commonly say ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’, and if you think of murderers in those standards, especially cold hearted murderers like Dick and Perry, you can understand why I feel the death penalty was appropriate for Dick and Perry’s circumstances. Karma is real, how you treat others always comes back to you in one form or another. Because of Dick and Perry’s non chalant attitudes towards something so violent and heartless, the horrendous murder of an entire family, they deserve to receive the karma, the death penalty, for what they have done.
On January 1st, 1996, the plea for insanity was abolished in Kansas. Despite insanity causing the unawareness of right and wrong, if somebody commits a treacherous, sinful act that shows a complete disregard for the value of life, it does not change the level of violence a sinner has portrayed. Dick and Perry should be permitted to plea for insanity, in order to allow others to have an insight about what they had in mind when killing, however, being insane does not change the disgusting level of violence they had pulsing in their brains. Being insane should not change the outcome of a murderers trial; being insane does not make a guilty individual innocent.
Kansas law now is very different than it was when Dick and Perry were convicted. Both Dick and Perry wouldn't be qualified to receive the death penalty now in Kansas. In 2011 in Kansas, the murder would have to be intentional and premeditated. Dick and Perry didn't plan to kill the Clutters, they just planned to rob them.
The insanity plea wouldn't work for Dick and Perry too. The insanity plea was abolished in Kansas in 1996. If Dick and Perry didn't have the insanity plea available when they were being convicted, there is more of a possibility that they would've received the death penalty.
Despite the fact that the death penalty is allowed in Kansas, there has not been an execution since 1976. Given the fact that an insanity plea is no longer legal in kansas, there is no choice but to sentence Dick and Perry to Death row. Even if the insanity plea was legal, they should still both be sentenced to death row because mental illness is no excuse to committing such a crime.
Killing a whole entire family is an awful crime. They killed people who have never did anything to hurt them. The fact that they were unhappy with themselves, is no reason for them to brutally murder the Clutter family. They were aware of what they were doing and it was pleasurable for them. These men cannot be allowed to live in society.
Maxx Kleiner
Eventhough the death peanalty has not been used in Kansas since 1976, it is still legal. Both Dick and Perry qualify for this sentence as well. First off the plea of insanity has been abolished there so they can't say their crazy. Also, the crimes they committed also qualify them for death. Because of the evidence that points to them vomiting the crime of homicide at a minimum of one time, they can have the death penalty given to them. Also the fact that the murders were premeditated gives another stick to the fire theyve built up over the years. With the crimes they committed and the state they are in, it is certainly possibly that they are elgiable for the death penalty.
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