« Brian Williams Spits on Founding Fathers | Main | Moonbat Swarm Converges on Scotland »
July 6, 2005
Another Walking Argument for Capital Punishment
White Plains, New York is known by some as the City of Malls. Nearby Westchester County Airport is small, but features some impressive facilities, even including a homeless shelter. Since there isn't much to do at the airport other than wait for planes, the shelter's residents are bused into town and dropped off at the Galleria Mall, where they can hang out during the day before taking the bus back to the shelter. But even cruising the mall can get a little dull after a while if you have no money to spend, so last week a homeless man named Phillip Grant livened up his daily routine by stealing a knife from a department store and using it to kill a legal secretary named Concetta Russo Carriero in the Galleria's parking garage. (Thanks to Wiggins for passing along this source.)
This behavior was not out of character for Grant. Until being released on mandatory parole in 2003, he had been serving a 7–21-year sentence at Sing Sing on multiple rape and assault charges. He was denied parole nine times, and even had additional time added to his sentence when he took a pitchfork to a fellow inmate. Classified as a Level 3 (high risk) sex offender, he took up residence at the Westchester Airport Shelter after his release. He was kicked out last spring for refusing to take a mental health evaluation, but apparently continued to stay at a drop-in center at the airport.
Grant was bused to his hunting grounds flying more red flags than a May Day celebration in the Soviet Union. But all he did was kill someone, so it's only a matter of time until they have to let him out again. To their credit, prosecutors are attempting to put that day off for as long as possible. Given the ridiculous system they work in, they are compelled to accomplish this by ridiculous means: it appears that Grant may be charged with a hate crime.
Unlike typical murders, which are motivated by love and affection, prosecutors may argue that this murder was a hate crime because Grant is black and allegedly was looking for a white victim. The point of asserting that the crime was racially motivated is that it would allow them to increase his minimum sentence.
Although it is nice to be reassured that you don't have to be white to be charged with a hate crime, the notion that killing people is somehow more wrong if you can inject race into the issue is absurd, not to mention unlikely to promote healthy race relations. But hey, whatever it takes to keep Grant in cage a few extra months before they bus him back to the mall to kill someone else.
Posted by Van Helsing at July 6, 2005 6:54 AM
Comments
I have a better more compassionate idea. Let's put Mr. Grant up in the home of a prominent anti-death penalty activist like, oh, Mike Farrell... or better yet, Ed Asner. I am sure any well-meaning left-liberal would be more than happy to house this poort unfortunate victim of the capitalist terror-machine in their home.
I bet he'd be glad to help out in the kitchen, too.
Posted by: V the K at July 6, 2005 9:19 AM
Maybe they could put Phil in a cell with Joe Duncan (pedophile sans fear of being seen) with both of them working in the kitchen; where Phil's weapon of choice is.
Posted by: Rob B. at July 6, 2005 10:04 AM
Well since he is at the airport already, think State Department would allow a special flight to Havana Cuba for him? Then let Fidel sort him out.
Posted by: Anna at July 6, 2005 10:53 AM
A friend of my friend knew him!
I live in White Plains, and a coworker of my friend said that he was actually a nice guy, and that he really knew how to party and always had good weed.
And yes, there are many homeless people living in the malls, sadly, many teenagers hang with them.
Frankly, I am surprised something like this has not happened already.
I remember this one guy, he had a comb over and was about 25, but hung out with girls from our highschool until he got sent back to prison for breaking the terms of his parole.
I of course always had enough sense not to be around people like that.
Posted by: Lethargic at July 7, 2005 11:17 AM
