Lawyers Argue Over Executing Young Slayers

Lawyers Argue Over Executing Young Slayers

Capital punishment--Georgia

An article on the execution of juveniles in the state of Florida by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Times-Union and Journal

HIST 298, University of Mary Washington

1986-03-29

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English

United States

ATLANTA — The execution of a convict who was under 18 at the time he committed the crime would violate evolving standards of decency established by history and law, an attorney argued before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday.

Mike Mello represented Florida Death Row inmate Paul Magill, who was 17 when he was charged with first-degree murder, rape and armed robbery of a 25-year-old Marion County convenience store clerk.

"If the state says he is too immature to vote, too immature to buy liquor for another four years, too immature to go to jai alai and bet, too immature to enter into a contract, too immature to make out a will . . . the state can't turn around and say you're mature enough to be executed," Mello argued.

But Margene Roper, an assistant Florida attorney general, said Mello's characterization of his client pales against "the brutal savage act of murder" committed by Magill.

"You can't say that no one knows murder isn't evil . . . simple immaturity is not going to excuse that act," she said.

"The capital punishment of a juvenile is a fair form of retribution for a crime that so defiles the dignity of the community," Ms. Roper said.

Newspaper

Phillips, Lydia

Williams, Megan