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mammastalkin · #1 11-07-2009, 10:31 AM

Death sentence for man who killed sister, husband

© 2009 The Associated Press

Nov. 6, 2009, 1:05PM

MARTINEZ, Calif. — A trucker from Northern California has been given the death sentence for killing his sister and brother-in-law despite pleas from the victims' son against the death penalty.
Jurors decided on a death sentence Thursday for Edward Wycoff. Last week, the jury convicted him of murdering Paul and Julie Rogers with a knife and wheelbarrow handle in their El Cerrito home in January 2006.
During the trial, Wycoff acted as his own attorney and said he killed the couple because they were "evil" and constantly disrespected him. His examples included the times they disobeyed him by using salad dressing at a family dinner and failed to invite him to a 2005 holiday gathering.
Eric Rogers had argued against the death penalty for his parents' killer, saying Wycoff was mentally ill and that his parents were against capital punishment.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6707273.html

Ness · #2 11-07-2009, 02:12 PM

This amazes me that the child has asked for the Uncle to be spared the death penalty because the victims (his parents) were against the death penalty and knew the Uncle was mentally ill... And the jury still handed down the death sentence!! Also it sounds like the Uncle was really mentally ill... Should he have even been tried with a death penalty case because of that??

mammastalkin · #3 11-07-2009, 02:38 PM

Not only that..but should he have been deemed able to act as his own atty? I had the same issues, Ness.

Ness · #4 11-07-2009, 11:16 PM

This case has alarm bells ringing the whole way round it!!! And you're right, he acted as his own attorney, when it is thought that he is mentally ill!!! I hope that this man gets the correct help that he needs and not a death sentence!!! It sounds like it was known that he was mentally ill, so I wonder what steps had been taken previous to help him??

mammastalkin · #5 11-08-2009, 12:00 PM

"It sounds like it was known that he was mentally ill, so I wonder what steps had been taken previous to help him??"

Ness, since it is the US judicial system, I'm going to say...ummm...none.

Ness · #6 11-08-2009, 03:40 PM

I am not too sure what goes on in the mental health system in the US, so I am not going to comment too much, however, from what I have heard and read... It is not good. It is apparently very hard to get a loved one any mental health assistance.