Browse Items (32 total)
Sort by:
Possible Death Penalty Affects Approaches to Bomb Trial
A recent bombing done by an Indiana man killed one and injured another Vermont resident. The perpetrator Chris Dean is being held without bond and is subject to Federal laws surrounding the death penalty. This has ignited a debate in Vermont as the…
Dean supports death penalty
The Governor spoke about his position on the death penalty and the appropriate usage of the death penalty for the state of Vermont.
Death Not Easy Punishment for Murder
After the murder of federal appellate Judge Robert S. Vance, Mello discusses the opinions on the death penalty held in states such as Florida, California, New York, and Texas. Mello further examines the complications of the death penalty including…
Murder Case Demonstrates Sabotage of Justice
With renewed interest in giving convicted murderer Joe Spaziano a new trial. Mello expresses the lack of legitimacy on this movement and specifically addresses the witness who claimed that he lied on the trial 20 years after the case. Mello closes…
The two Crazy Joes
As two newspapers, the Herald and the Sentinel, cover the same story of Joseph "Crazy Joe" Spaziano, they report two completely different stories. David Barstow evaluates why these two reliable newspapers published two different views of the case, as…
Court gives 'Crazy Joe' 11th-hour reprieve
“Crazy Joe” Spaziano receives a last-minute stay of execution on his 50th birthday September 25, 1995. In 1975 police charged Joe Spaziano with the 1973 rape-torture slaying of 18-year-old hospital clerk Laura Lynn Harberts. Jurors found Spaziano…
Volunteer Lawyers Resource Center's budget eliminated
This newspaper was describing how volunteer lawyer programs are being shut down due to lack of funding. There are other programs besides CCR that are trying to help prisoners on death row be represented in court. There has also been a dramatic…
Spaziano gets stay of execution
The judge for Joe Spaziano case gave Joe a delay his execution because of his lawyer did want to cooperate with the state attorney. Joe Spaziano was supposed to be executed for the murder of Laura Lynn Harberts who was 18 on August 1973 who was found…
Florida Supreme Courts grants Spaziano a stay of execution
This article is about a stay of execution granted by the Florida Supreme to Joe Spaziano after Michael Mello refused to send his paperwork to state lawyers.
Spaziano case sent to Sanford for appeal
Joseph Spaziano gets denied a stay of execution. The Florida Supreme Court decides that the new evidence regard the fact that a key witness in the 1976 murder trial lied must be heard by a Sanford court. The lower court was believed to be the place…
Arguments heard in death appeal
Death row inmate requests appeal in case two weeks before execution.
Spaziano's attorney asks court to halt execution
Joe Spaziano's attorney, Michael Mello, appeals the Florida Supreme Court to halt the execution.
Spaziano insists he's innocent
Spaziano later claims his innocence in court and Gov. Lawton Chiles delayed Spaziano's execution based on this information.
Spaziano's lawyer says state lied
Michael Mello, Spaziano's lawyer accuses Governor Chiles' office of lying and possibly tampering with evidence. Star witness in the case recants statement.
'Crazy Joe' defense to dispute secret probe
On Tuesday August 29, 1995, "Crazy Joe" Spaziano's defense lawyer Michael Mello challenges death warrant.
Joe Spaziano gets fifth death warrant
An updating of the case of Joe Spaziano as he receives his fifth death warrant, and a recounting of the last few events surrrounding Spaziano's trial.
Clemency sought in death case
The article discusses a plea for clemency in the death sentence of a motorcycle gang member after the key witness for the prosecution recanted their testimony.
Closing the door on innocence
News article covering Mello's continued defense of Joseph Spaziano 23 days before his execution is carried out.
Florida Court ruling could spare lives of some condemned inmates
The Flordia Court made a ruling to spare the lives of condemned inmates.
Wilder Grants Death Sentence Reversal
Governor L. Douglas Wilder commuted Joseph M. Giarratano's death sentence. Giarratano's sentence was reduced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 13 years.