Thursday, September 6, 2007

Pulp Fiction - Texas Version

This man is Kenneth Foster, Jr. He was sentenced to death for murder. Funny thing, he didn't commit the murder. This is not disputed. In fact, the actual murderer has been convicted and executed. Kenneth Foster was convicted under a Texas statute called the "Law of Parties". In a nutshell, this means you are guilty by association. So, again, it is not disputed: Kenneth Foster did not murder anyone. He was several yards away from the murder. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to die.

The conclusion of his story at the end.

This is Colton Pitonyak. He attended the University of Texas at Austin. Colton was arrested for the murder of his friend, Jennifer Cave. Jennifer's body was found in Colton's West Campus condo. In the bathtub. Her hands and head were found elsewhere. Colton fled to Mexico.

The conclusion of his story at the end.

This is Phill Raije Rian, a 41-year old Austin, Texas woman. She had a sexual relationship with a neighbor over a year or so. They had discussed getting married. The neighbor boy was 16-years old.
The conclusion of her story at the end.
Kenneth Foster, Jr., was sentenced to die for a murder he did not commit. After an international outcry and thousands of letters of protest, his life hung in the balance. In an extremely rare occurrence, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommend that his life be spared. Texas Governor Rick Perry agreed.
Kenneth Foster's life was spared from the electric chair at the last minute for a murder that everyone knew he did not commit.
Colton Pitonyak was tried and convicted of savagely murdering his 19-year old friend in a drug-induced haze; hacking her head and hands off of her body.
Colton Pitonyak was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Phil Raije Rian was convicted of child molestation. She had a sexual relationship with her 16-year old neighbor. A sexual relationship. A relationship in which the boy said they discussed getting married when he became of age. These two people had sexual intercourse.
Phil Raije Rian was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Quick recap:
No murder: Death row
Gruesome Murder: 55 years
Sex: 23 years.

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