Serial killer Michael Ross executed in ConnecticutBy Tom Smith
Ross was a graduate of Cornell University (my alma mater). The
history of the investigation, convictions and appeals is particularly circuitous. I'm of two minds about the death penalty, but he certainly seems like a good candidate for it.
Some interesting questions raised, including, should "sexual sadism" qualify as a mental illness that mitigates the penalty for murder? And, to what extent should the convicted murderer's desire to be executed to attone for his crimes be taken into account? Curiously, as Ross arguably become more sane on medication, his sense of guilt and desire to be executed increased.
Also note, the one woman who survived one of Ross's attack put up a fight.
posted by thomas at 5/13/2005 07:13:00 AM
