Story of Brandon Bernard who was executed by The U.S Government despite appeal
Brandon Bernard was an inmate on death row who has made the news after Kim Kardashian West spoke on his Favour. Kim Kardashian is against the execution of the convicted felony who killed two people at the age of 18.
Bernard was on death row for 21 years and was awaiting his sentence. His execution date was today December 10 and he was laid to rest via lethal injection.
His execution had been set for 5 p.m. CT at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Less than three hours before, a federal appeals court that includes Indiana denied an emergency request from Bernard’s lawyers to halt the execution, although legal efforts in other courts were still pending.
Bernard would be the ninth person put to death by the federal government this year after the Department of Justice resumed executions in July after a 17-year hiatus on the federal level.
Bernard’s Crime
Bernard and Christopher Vialva, his co-defendant, were convicted of murder in 2000 for their roles in the killing of two youth ministers, Todd and Stacie Bagley, the previous year.
Some of their associates asked Todd Bagley for a ride, and after he agreed, they put the couple into the car’s trunk and drove them to an isolated area on the Fort Hood, Tex., military reservation, according to court records.
Vialva shot each of them in the head, and Bernard set the car on fire; Todd Bagley was killed by the gunshot, while Stacie Bagley by smoke inhalation, the records show. Bernard was 18 at the time. Vialva was 19; he was executed by the federal government in September.
Bernard’s attorneys have argued that his trial was flawed and emphasized that several jurors from his case now support him being sentenced to life in prison rather than death. They also described Bernard as a model prisoner.
Robert C. Owen, an attorney for Bernard, assailed the planned execution in a statement Thursday night, saying it was “a stain on America’s criminal justice system.”
Owen said Bernard was put on death row due to “egregious government misconduct in concealing evidence and misleading the jury, which the courts refused to remedy.”
In a dissent Thursday night, Sotomayor wrote: “Bernard has never had the opportunity to test the merits of [his] claims in court. Now he never will.”
- Comedian Dave Chappelle tests positive for coronavirus cancels shows - January 28, 2021
- Boeing declares $12billion loss for 2020 - January 28, 2021
- American singer Halsey reveals she is pregnant with 1st child - January 28, 2021
