Vermont Jury Rules for Death Sentance first time since 1954

Vermont man is sentanced to death for the first time since 1954. Donald Fell killed a supermarket worker, in the states first capitol punishment trial in almost half a century. Jury reached a verdict on the second day of deliberation in the federal case.

In 2001 Fell agreed to life without parol. Us Attorney General John Ashcroft, insisted on the death penalty. Fell was with a Robert Lee, who allegedly with Fell during the murder. Lee killed himeslf in 2001 in a "accidental hanging" during his incarceration.

In 1954 the last defendant to be sentanced to death, had the sentance commuted.

Source
www.comcast.net.../2005/07/14/178391.html

[edit on 7/14/2005 by Rhiannon1968]

Interesting stuff.

It doesn't look, however, as if he'll actually be executed. Though he's been given the death penalty, there doesn't seem to be any indication that it will be carried out (judging by past history of the state, etc etc).

There was a similar case here in North Dakota quite recently; again there's no death penalty statute, but because Dru Sjodin's body was found in Minnesota, the US Attorney consulted with John Ashcroft, and the death penalty is being sought in the case.

It will remain to be seen if either sentence is actually carried out.