OHIO
Oct. 13, 2004
Adremey Dennis was executed by the state of Ohio on Oct. 13. Our deepest sympathies are exctended to the loved ones of Adremy Dennis and Kurt Kyle.
The State of Ohio is scheduled to execute Adremy Dennis, an African-American man, Oct. 13. for the murder of Kurt Kyle in Summit County.
According to the state, Dennis and an accomplice robbed Marty Eberhart and Kurt Kyle at gun point at approximately 1:30 a.m. The state alleges that Dennis intentionally shot Kyle after the victim failed to give anything of substance to the defendant. Dennis admits that he shot the victim but maintains the shooting was accidental. He was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime as well as possibly during his interrogation. The defense claimed on appeal that his altered state prevented him from being fully aware of his actions.
Several problems with the original trial were presented upon appeal of Mr. Dennis' conviction to the Court of Appeals in Ohio including the specific exclusion of minority voters from the jury pool as well as the specific exclusion of members of the jury pool who had reservations about the death penalty. Unfortunately, as is common in cases involving the death penalty, there is a question of ineffective counsel. During the initial criminal trial, the counsel to the defendant did not raise objections to the challenging of two potential African-American jurors until after the jury had been sworn in. Essentially, the motion was too late to be considered effective.
In addition to the various mitigating factors presented during the trial, there are other valid reasons not to execute Dennis. Dennis was the unfortunate recipient of ineffective parenting. According to Dr. Brown, a psychologist who testified on his behalf, stated Dennis lacked effective parenting until the age of 15. Adremy's abusive father left when he was only five years old and he and his brother were removed from his mother's care when he was 13. After staying in various homes he was eventually placed in a foster home at the age of 15. Dr. Brown also conducted an IQ testing showing Dennis at only three percentage points above what is considered to mentally retarded.
Supporters of Dennis point to other problems with the trial involving the jury. They maintain four jurors did not agree with or were undecided with imposing a death sentence. However, they were reportedly pushed to proceed. One jurist did not reveal she had been raped and assaulted as a child. This was discovered during the course of the trial and she was allowed to sign a wavier that she could continue during the deliberation process.
A federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of lethal injection has been filed on behalf of Dennis and another man on Ohio's death row. Lethal injection in Ohio consists of using a short-term anesthetic and then administering a paralyzing drug. This combination can combine to leave a person conscious but paralyzed during the very painful effects of death by suffocation and heart attack. It is for this reason that veterinarians forbid the use of this combination of drugs for euthanizing pets. The Ohio Public Defender's Office is arguing that this violates a person's constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
Please take minute to write Gov. Taft protesting the execution of Adremy Dennis and requesting he grant Mr. Dennis clemency.
You may personalize the letter below including the facts in the above summary or submit the following letter. Then, check the send a fax box below.
You may also email the Governor by visiting this site: http://governor.ohio.gov/contactinfopage.asp
