DEAD MAN WALKING
Reasons why Matthew Poncelet
Reasons why Matthew Poncelet
should be executed for his crimes
should not be executed for his
crimes
- he was found guilty of a crime
- he grew up in poverty and
he did commit in a State with
could not therefore afford a
capital punishment for murder
defense attorney
- he admits to Sister Helen on
- his court appointed attorney
the day of his execution that
did not defend him in court
he was responsible for killing a
(raised only one objection at
teenage boy and raping the
his trial)
boy’s teenage girlfriend
- the other man who killed the
- the punishment is clear: if he
girl did not get the death
did not want to be sentenced
penalty
to death, he should not kill
innocent people
- the governor turns down his
appeal for a new trial or a stay
- his appeal for a new trial, or to
of execution because he is
have his sentence changed to
running for re-election
life in prison, was turned down
- he wants to appear tough on
- his new lawyer presents
crime
evidence that Poncelet’s first
trial was unfair and the court
- if killing is immoral, then this
rules that such evidence is
includes killing murderers
weak and does not warrant a
- murderers still can be made to
new trial
pay for their crimes by placing
- the governor turns down a stay
them in jail for life without a
of execution
chance for parole
- Poncelet was granted a fair
appeal process by the court
and he is still sentenced to die
-
his death would serve as an
example reminding others not
to go around killing people in
society