Texas to Execute Hate Crime Murderer: On of the worst hate crime murderers in the country faces execution in Texas tomorrow. John King, a habitual felon was the ringleader in the torture and murder of a black man in 1998. Ellen Megirt of Fortune reports that on June 7, 1998 King, Lawrence Brewer and Shaun Berry, all white ex-cons, lured James Boyd Jr., a black man, into their pickup in the small town of Jasper. The criminals beat Boyd, pulled down his pants, chained him to the rear bumper and dragged him down a rural road until his body was ripped apart. The trio left Boyd's body, minus his head and one arm, in front of a black church. A more detailed description of the crime is provided in the direct appeal. King was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999. Brewer was also sentenced to death and executed in 2011. Berry is serving LWOP for his part in the murder. The evidence of guilt was overwhelming, and included King's incriminating statements. It is important to note here that opponents of the death penalty believe that King should be allowed to keep his life and that his execution amounts to government sanctioned murder.
News Scan curated from Crime and Consequences Blog
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