http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8515573.stm


Well that is one way to avoid the death penalty.

A very sad day, after 27 years of appeals and counter-appeals on Death Row, for the various law firms involved.
To be robbed of such a long-serving "cash-cow" by "natural causes" seems ironic.

Yes the death penalty only enriches the lawyers, even though most are against it.

27 years of appeals - there's hope for Gary McKinnon yet

On a serious note, I never really 'got' Death Row - what's the point of it, to prevent uproar by continually killing criminals as quickly as possible or something?

It's sort of like sorting trays/boxes on your desk. In, out and pending.

I imagine there would be even more uproar if convicted criminals were executed on the same day as sentencing. Death Row allows time for appeals, and has no doubt seen many reprieves in its time.

Why was he on death row so long?

He was hardly a likely candidate for rehabilitation, and spent over half his life in prison for murdering people.

Yes but innocent still get executed, even with all the appeals.