Reed executed in electric chairAfter evening of delay and appeals, man convicted of killing Adams Run couple is put to death The Post and Courier
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Post and Courier James Earl Reed The high court's decision:Read the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on mentally ill criminal defendants. Previous stories about James Earl ReedMan to be executed Friday for double murder COLUMBIA — James Earl Reed was executed by electrocution late Friday, after court action delayed his death for about five hours. Reed, 49, was convicted of murdering Joseph and Barbara Ann Lafayette in their Adams Run home in 1994, shooting each five times and at point-blank range. He offered no final words. Reed became the 280th person put to death in South Carolina since 1912, but the circumstances surrounding his execution were anything but typical. Witnesses were brought back to the capital punishment facility at Broad River Correctional Institute at 10:40 p.m. for this on-again-off-again execution. Attorney Diana L. Holt filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court by the 10:50 p.m. deadline, which was immediately followed by a motion from the state Attorney General's Office. The Supreme Court weighed the case for less than an hour before allowing the state to carry out the execution. Reed was pronounced dead at 11:27 p.m. Holt said she believed the state tried to rush the execution. "What in the world is the rush," she said minutes before Reed was put to death. "They won't let Mr. Reed have a conversation with me or the other attorney." The night took its first twist at 5:40 p.m., 20 minutes before the execution was originally scheduled, when U.S. District Judge Henry F. Floyd granted Holt's motion to stay the execution. The family of the murder victims, along with reporters, waited for five hours to witness the execution until the Corrections Department announced that the execution was back on. That action came when the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., upheld the state's motion to vacate the stay of execution. Marsha Lafayette Aleem, 37, the victims' youngest daughter, spoke after the execution. Aleem and two of her uncles witnessed Reed's death. "Today is not a celebration for my family. This is a day about justice," she said. "Today starts our healing process." Over the years, she said, people have gotten to know a lot about James Earl Reed. Now, it's time to know the victims. The Lafayettes made many sacrifices for their three children, putting them through college, Aleem said. Later, all three chose careers in the military. "They're not here to see the grandchildren," Aleem said. "They weren't here to share the happiest moments of our lives. They are the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice." Holt filed an appeal with the Supreme Court with enough time to postpone the execution. The motion was based on a Supreme Court decision Thursday that said a defendant can be ruled competent to stand trial but incapable of acting as his own lawyer. The case is Indiana v. Edwards. Reed's competency was an issue during his double-murder trial, in which he represented himself. Reed had an IQ of 77. A normal IQ ranges from 85 to 115. The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities defines a person with an IQ of 70 as having mild retardation, but the ceiling may reach 75 due to a five-point standard error of measurement. Fielding Pringle, one of the attorneys who filed the motion to intervene along with Holt, said Friday evening that they believe that Indiana v. Edwards entitled Reed to a new trial. Reed did not contact the lawyers who filed the motion, Pringle said. Lawyers may intervene on a person's behalf if they believe that something is taking place that is unjust or unconstitutional, the Columbia-based private practice lawyer said. Reed did not request a last meal or a spiritual adviser, Gelinas said. The 7-2 high court decision overruled the Indiana State Supreme Court's ruling that a schizophrenic man, who wanted to represent himself, was entitled to a new trial after a judge denied him his right to represent himself. Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine acted in a similar case earlier this month. He commuted Percy Walton's death sentence to life in prison without parole on June 9, according to published reports. Kaine said Walton's mental condition left him incompetent to be executed because he was not cognizant of what was happening. The governor cited those reasons in addition to Walton's age at the time of the crime and evidence of mental retardation. In 1996, the trial judge allowed Reed to represent himself, with a court-designated standby counsel, after a doctor concluded he was competent and able to understand the proceedings. The doctor found Reed's failure to cooperate with appointed counsel to be voluntary, according to court records. After a jury took only 30 minutes to convict him, Reed pleaded for a lawyer to represent him in the sentencing. The judge refused, and Reed received capital punishment. Eight people came to the Corrections Department headquarters to protest the execution, some of whom had participated Thursday in a vigil for Reed at a Columbia chapel. Ron Kaz traveled from James Island to protest the execution, although he, like the others, did not know Reed or his family. "I don't believe the state should be killing people," Kaz said. "They do it in my name and I resent it." Schuyler Kropf contributed to this report. |
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Comments
This article has 27 comment(s)
Posted by Creeker01 on June 21, 2008 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead....
Posted by off2dr on June 21, 2008 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justice was served tonight and as the victims' daughter stated the healing process can now begin.
Pam
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Posted by geekguy2008 on June 21, 2008 at 2:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NEXT!!!!
Posted by ForPnC on June 21, 2008 at 3:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms Holt - What rush?! We've been waiting FOURTEEN YEARS. Where have you been.
I'm glad he's DEAD.
Posted by Slick50 on June 21, 2008 at 4:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice smile......
Posted by wesdun on June 21, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: ForPnC's comment...
Right on!! I read that and I said to myself that I know this lawyer has the credentials to be a politician. What a completely stupid question... 'What in the world is the rush?'
Posted by JH09915 on June 21, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Read,
"Bye -bye, now" !!
Posted by RICHJRR2 on June 21, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust, if he would'nt been a piece of crap he'd still be with us... One less worthless mouth to feed by our tax dollars!!!!!
Posted by palmettoruckus on June 21, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder what fried guilt smells like. To the family, I am happy for you that you are able to try to finally get over this terrible situation.
Posted by wise1 on June 21, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reed killed his ex-girlfriend's parents because they didn't tell him of her whereabouts and he retaliated and killed them. He had the balls to say he's innocent and he audacity to represent himself in the murder trial. So what in the hell is Holt talking about that the state is in the rush to execute this animal? 14 DAMN YEARS IN THE WAITING! The Lafayette children lost their rock, sword and shield on that fatal night and they should start the healing process. I am so relieved it is over now. Holt - Motion to Stay my *ss!
Posted by ravanel on June 21, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is no one working at the Post & Courier? The execution was stopped for an appeal. It did not happen. This newspaper should be more responsible. Using a term like "is scheduled for execution" would have avoided this mistake. What's even more surprising is that this story has yet to be corrected online at 9:40AM the next day! This could easily be fixed from an employee's home without anyone having to actually go into the office. There's really no excuse for this. It's the paper's job -- and responsibility to it's readers -- to be accurate.
Posted by RTC on June 21, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shut up, Ms. Holt, and let this family try to heal.
They have suffered enough for the past 14 yrs.
Thank you, Gov. Sanford, for not making that phone call.
Posted by drp7773 on June 21, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There was a delay but according to this paper and channel 5 news he was killed and pronounced dead around 11 pm...
Posted by RTC on June 21, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I take back that comment about Sanford. Since the Supreme Court made the ruling, I don't believe the governor can stop the execution. Does anyone know if he could have?
Posted by bobkitty on June 21, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you Ms. Pringle! All you who claim to be pro-lifers should be saddened by this. A life is a life.
Posted by swhfd28 on June 21, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good....lets fry some more of them.
Posted by RTC on June 21, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bobkitty, I'm sorry, but unborn children don't commit murders. Your comment makes no sense based on this case.
Posted by Spunky_Monkey on June 21, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, they did finally fry him?
Why do we put these people on death row for so flippin' long only to be supported by OUR tax dollars???
If they're found guilty then take care of matters THEN!!!! Don't wait a decade or longer!!
Posted by TinaR on June 21, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To RTC,
I believe that the Gov may have had the ability to commute the sentence to life in prison without possibilty of parole. Must Gov can do that I believe.
Posted by OldSalt on June 21, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The IQ issue gives me pause for concern, as well as the method of execution, (which I know he chose).
Someone mildly retarded may not be able to handle anger or rejection the same way fully facultied people do. I am not trained in this area so I can only speculate.
It apparently takes "minutes" to execute someone by electrocution. Again, I am not trained in this area, but it seems we could come up with a more humane method. We don't even electrocute animals, (and no he is not an animal - he is still human whether we like it or not).
I know, I know - "a con will always be a con," but I hope we are better than this - in justicial determination and reasoned deliberation and in the act of termination of human life. I could be wrong of course.
Posted by outrage on June 21, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually it is cheaper to keep them in prison for life. Appeals and court costs for this process are astronomical, but I have no problem with him paying for his crime.
"I don't believe the state should be killing people," Kaz said. "They do it in my name and I resent it."
Well people do not believe Mr. Reed should be killing people, so lets just say they did this in my name! Fair enough!
Posted by deputy216 on June 21, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you South Carolina for stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing and the right time.
Posted by off2dr on June 21, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Justice has now been served for Joseph and Barbara Ann Lafayette, may they rest in peace.
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Posted by ForPnC on June 21, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL Tripsa!
Posted by jolena01 on June 21, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
first and foremost that these are lives that both familys have lost love ones! Two wrongs dont make a right and a death of another will never bring this couple back. Its sad that this world is turning into one killing spree everywhere. My prays go out to both familys.
Posted by PalmettoHawk on June 21, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For an innocent person to serve time in jail (or prison if you like) is a travesty of justice. To those who would ask why it took so long for his execution, it would be a tremendous mistake to execute someone who might be innocent of the crime for which they were convicted. I have no problem with any State taking the time to be absolutely certain the individual they execute is the correct person. With the introduction of DNA testing and other advances in scientific determination of guilt why should be rush to judgement? Otherwise we as humanity become little more than an organized lynch mob white and black alike.
Posted by SVT1960 on June 22, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to speak on behalf of my dad (Harold) who is no longer with us. He lost his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Barbara. Now, I know he is resting in peace and our family can now start healing. To my cousins - I love you guys and may you now at least start healing. We lost two beautiful, great, loving people.
- Love always,
Sharon Thomas (Lafayette)