| Which
Death Row First? |
| No sooner than the Washington area has lowered its collective
guard, no sooner than the ink has dried on the indictments
and no sooner than school children are back playing outdoors,
at least four states, the Feds and the District of Columbia
are vying for the chance to try the suspected snipers. |
| The arguments range from who has the best evidence to who
has the best chance of sentencing the two suspects, if convicted,
to death. |
| Virginia, which has executed more felons than the other
jurisdictions, wants the case. They also can sentence minors
to death. Maryland cannot execute minors, the District has
no death penalty and the Feds can seek the death penalty when
extortion is involved in a felony. Virginia also has an anti-terrorism
law which carries the death penalty. |
| It's as if Virginia is saying, "We can execute people
easier than you can." |
| It is confusing for those of us who are sitting on the sidelines
watching all the posturing, the interviews on Sunday morning
television shows and newspaper reports throughout the area.
The facts still are coming in. |
| Has this prosecution become a game of "one-upmanship?"
Is it a game of publicity and of politics? |
| I don't think so. After all is said and done, all the jurisdictions
will have their day in court. It's just a matter of who goes
first. |
| It will not be the only argument set forth in this case.
Who gets the $500,000 reward is sure to find its way into
court. I vote for the truck driver at the I-70 rest stop west
of Frederick, Md., who spotted the junker the suspects were
driving, called 911 because he couldn't remember the 800 number,
and waited for instructions from the police. |
| Police told him to block the exit from the rest stop with
his 18-wheeler and stand by, which he did. He hung around
for a couple of hours after the police came and then headed
on back to his home in southern Ohio. |
| Now that's worth the reward: at least most of it. |
| Those of us who are watching all of this from our homes
know that the really important thing is that three weeks of
horror came to an end last week with the arrest of two suspects
and one material witness in the Beltway Sniper case. |
| There may have been more deaths, more carnage in other famous
serial killings, but none that has captured the attention
of the country, and the world, more than this episode. |
| I received a call from friends in England this weekend,
as well as call from friends in Michigan, congratulating us
for ending the terrible three weeks of fear brought on by
the snipers. |
| Congratulations is an odd word in this scenario, but maybe
it's the correct word. Congratulations to all of us for surviving
what must be the worst nightmare most of us will ever face. |
| It reminds me of filmmaker Michael Moore's comment in his
latest movie, "Bowling for Columbine," in which he tells
a potential killer, "Thank you for not shooting me." |
| |
| An
Accidental Rear-Ender? |
| Speaking of nightmares, here is one that most drivers only
think about. |
| Jeffrey Keech of Herndon e-mailed me a letter telling of
an experience he had while driving in Herndon. |
| He writes: "I was involved in an accident on Sunday,
Oct. 27 at 2:45 p.m. The accident took place on Ferndale Avenue
within 25 feet of its intersection with Elden Street. The
accident involved a gray pick-up truck and a beige BMW 525.
I was driving the BMW on Ferndale towards Elden. |
| "At the stop sign waiting to turn right onto Elden
street were two cars, the second of which was the gray pick-up
truck. I came to a complete stop approximately 10 feet behind
the pickup. The driver of the truck then drove his car very
fast in reverse, and I did not have time to do anything other
than beep before the truck smashed into the grill of my car.
|
| "I got out of my car (and) he repeatedly apologized
to me. When the police arrived he (told) the officer I had
rear-ended (his) truck. The driver of the truck later drove
away from the scene with a small scratch on the rear bumper.
My car will need a new hood, two front quarter panels, front
bumper, and many engine parts." |
| Mr. Keech asks anyone who witnessed the accident to call
him at 703-728-1466. |
| The last time I saw that happen to a driver (on Crestview
and Herndon Parkway) a police cruiser was 20 yards away. In
that case, the driver going in reverse received the ticket. |
| And another, more serious accident in Herndon. Todd Cecil
of Herndon writes: |
| "On Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., baby Emma was killed by a hit-and-run
driver on Locust Street. Best friend to Tommy, age 4, Leeni,
age 2, playful companion to Ursa, this 4-month-old Australian
Shepard should not have been struck on a residential street.
|
| "This half-mile stretch of road in downtown Herndon
has 17 homes, an apartment complex, a child care center, and
a middle school. Please observe the 25 mph speed limit and
pay attention while driving." |
| Slow down, folks. |
| And that's Our Town this week. |
