by Robert A. Waters
Throughout
history, many cultures practiced “an eye for an eye,” meaning
that if an individual was murdered, the victim's family exacted
revenge. Blood feuds from these original murders sometimes lasted
for centuries. Once cultures developed civilized legal systems, the
state became the arbiter of justice for victims of violent crimes.
The death penalty was developed as kind of a social contract between
citizens and the state, whereby an eye for an eye still applied, but
was carried out by the state. In the following case, that social
contract has been turned on its head, because the victim signed a
document asking the state not to execute his killer.
“If
anybody loves Father Rene, they'll forgive me because he was a man of
God, and forgiveness is forgiveness,” Steven Murray, 28, told
reporters after leading police to the bullet-riddled body of Catholic
Priest Rene Robert. Murray admitted slaying Robert, but blamed it on
“mental problems.”
On
April 12, Father Rene had been scheduled to perform a funeral service
in St. Augustine, Florida, but never showed up. Since this was out
of character, church officials contacted the St. Johns County
Sheriff's Office and reported him missing. During the investigation, a
neighbor informed detectives that he last saw Father Rene on Sunday,
April 10. Robert's car, a 2012 blue Toyota with a Florida Special
Olympics tag, was also missing.
Police
soon spotted the vehicle and began pursuing the suspect. After a
high-speed chase, deputies lost sight of the car on I-95 near
Jacksonville. Murray, identified as the driver, appeared to be
heading north, so the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office alerted
agencies in Georgia and South Carolina to be on the lookout for the
car. Late on the afternoon of April 13, the blue Toyota was
discovered in Aiken, South Carolina.
The
next day, St. Johns County Sheriff's spokesman Chuck Mulligan
announced that Murray had been arrested. Mulligan told reporters
that Murray's family had been friends with Father Rene, and “we
believe Murray took advantage of [Father Rene's] kindness” as the
priest attempted to counsel Murray. After being interviewed, the
suspect led detectives to Robert's remains in rural Burke County,
Georgia. An autopsy confirmed that the priest had died of several
gunshot wounds.
The
Daily Beast reported that Father Rene's fellow clergy
described him as having been “intensely dedicated. His life's work
was with people struggling with drug addictions and criminal
histories. He would give money to recovering addicts and even lend
them his car.” Like many Catholics, Father Rene adamantly opposed
the death penalty.
On
the other hand, Steven Murray had a long history of petty crime.
Over a ten-year period, he was arrested for offenses such as larceny,
selling stolen property, giving false information to a pawn shop,
firearms violations, and violation of probation. He had been out of
prison for less than a month when he is alleged to have murdered
Father Rene.
Sheriff
David Shoar, a friend of the priest, issued the following statement:
“I join many others within our community who were touched by Father
Rene over the years and extend my condolences to his family and
friends. He will be sorely missed. I am confident that all of the
investigators will continue their hard work in seeking a successful
prosecution of this heinous act.”
It
was at this point that detectives located a document that ignited a
fierce debate about whether Murray should receive the ultimate
punishment, if convicted.
A
Declaration of Life, signed by Father Rene, read: “Should I die as
a result of violent crime, I request that the person or persons found
guilty of homicide for my killing not be subject to or put in
jeopardy of the death penalty under any circumstance, no matter how
heinous the crime or how much I have suffered.”
In
the coming trial, will the priest's wishes be upheld? While the
prosecutor has already stated her intention of seeking capital
punishment, Father Rene's family has publicly stated that they oppose
execution.
When
Father Rene signed the Declaration of Life form years ago, he likely
never had an inkling that he would be murdered. But he let his
wishes be known, and never changed his mind. Despite the brutality
of the crime and the outrage of citizens in St. Augustine, it is
probable that Steven Murray will never die from the prick of a
needle.
No comments:
Post a Comment