Page 6 - atoday
P. 6
A6
U.S. NEWSThursday 15 October 2015
Texas executes inmate for Dallas police officer’s 2001 death
MICHAEL GRACZYK This undated handout photo provided by the Texas Department “Pope Francis, God’s chil- semi-automatic handgun
Associated Press of Criminal Justice shows Licho Escamilla. Escamilla is set to die dren has asked the state of struck James twice, knock-
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, for the slaying of Dallas Police Officer Texas to switch my death ing him to the ground. Es-
A Texas man already be- Christopher Kevin James. sentence to life in prison,” camilla then calmly walked
ing sought for a neighbor’s he said. “But the state of up to the officer and fired
slaying when he killed a (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP) Texas has refused to listen three more shots into the
Dallas police officer out- to God’s children. back of his head before
side a club was executed “They will have to take that running and exchanging
Wednesday. up with God,” he added. shots with other officers,
Licho Escamilla was put to He took two breaths as witnesses said. A second
death for the November the sedative pentobarbi- officer wounded in the
2001 death of Christopher tal took effect, then be- shootout survived.
Kevin James who was try- came still. His sister cried A wounded Escamilla was
ing to break up a brawl and screamed for God not arrested as he tried to car-
involving Escamilla. The to take him. The rumbling jack a truck.
33-year-old prisoner was of motorcycles could be About a half-dozen Dallas
pronounced dead at 6:31 heard outside the prison police officers stood at at-
p.m. CDT (2331 GMT) — 18 where bikers supporting the tention and saluted as rela-
minutes after the lethal in- punishment had gathered. tives of the slain officer en-
jection began. The U.S. Supreme Court re- tered the prison in Huntsville
Escamilla became the 24th fused to review his case last ahead of the execution.
convicted killer execut- week and no additional “It’s taken longer than we
ed this year in the United appeals were filed as his would have liked,” Freder-
States. Texas has account- execution neared. The Tex- ick Frazier, first vice presi-
ed for 12 of the executions. as Board of Pardons and dent of the Dallas Police
Before dying, Escamilla Paroles on Monday decid- Association, said.
looked at the slain officer’s ed against a reprieve and He said he and others
daughter, who was seated clemency. showed up to support
a few feet away watch- James and three other uni- James and make sure he’s
ing through a window, and formed officers were work- remembered for the work
told her: “God bless your ing off-duty when the brawl he did. While officers know
heart.” He turned to his started. Escamilla pulled they’re risking their lives ev-
relatives watching through out a gun and opened fire ery day, James’ death has
another window and said on the officers as they tried been difficult for them be-
he loved them and every- to end the fight. cause of how it happened,
one who supported him. The bullets from his 9 mm Frazier added. q
3 charged with killing tourist, yoga teacher appear in court
SAN RAFAEL, California last week. saying he needs time to re- and Europe. They also are charged with animal cru-
(AP) — Three transients Lampley, accused of pull- view the evidence. Angold accused of killing Steve elty. The suspects have
appeared briefly in court ing the trigger of a stolen and Alligood are still wait- Carter, 67, while he walked “no fixed address,” Marin
Wednesday for the first time gun in both killings, yawned ing to be assigned lawyers his dog along a popular County sheriff’s Lt. Doug
since they were charged frequently as the trio was qualified to handle possible hiking trail in Marin Coun- Pittman said. They were ar-
with killing and robbing a assigned court-appointed death penalty cases. ty, 20 miles (32 kilometers) rested outside a Portland,
Canadian backpacker attorneys. They were or- The three are charged with north of the city. Carter was Oregon, soup kitchen last
and a yoga instructor days dered to return to court shooting backpacker Au- shot multiple times, and his week. They were found
apart in California. Oct. 26. All three could drey Carey, 23, in the head body was discovered on with the stolen gun, Cart-
Morrison Haze Lampley, be sentenced to death if and stealing her camping Oct. 5, investigators say. er’s Volkswagen station
23, Sean Michael Angold, convicted, but Marin Dis- gear, passport and airline Followers credited Carter wagon and items belong-
24, and Lila Scott Alligood, trict Attorney Edward Ber- tickets. Her body was found with improving their roman- ing to Carey, according to
18, did not enter pleas berian said he will decide Oct. 3 in San Francisco’s tic relationships by teach- investigators and a criminal
Wednesday in Marin Coun- later whether to pursue the Golden Gate Park, where ing tantra, a philosophy of complaint.
ty Superior Court but ap- death penalty. Public de- officials believed she had meditation, yoga and sex- The complaint also charges
peared with new buzz cuts fender David Brown, who camped during a three- uality famously embraced Lampley with being a felon
after having their hair cut represents Lampley, de- day music festival. Carey by rock star Sting. in possession of a gun. It
in jail. Alligood and Angold clined to comment about lived in Quebec and had His Doberman Pinscher also says he was convicted in
had both sported long hair the case Wednesday morn- just started a backpack- was shot but is expected July of receiving a stolen
when they were arrested ing to The Associated Press, ing trek in the United States to survive. The three are car in San Diego.q
