The state of Missouri on Tuesday executed Brian Dorsey for the 2006 murders of his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Benjamin Bonnie, after an effort to have his life spared failed in recent days.

Dorsey’s time of death was recorded as 6:11 p.m, the Missouri Department of Corrections said in a news release. The method of execution was lethal injection, Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the department, said at a news conference, adding it “went smoothly, no problems.”

The execution of Dorsey, 52, occurred hours after the US Supreme Court declined to intervene and about a day after Missouri’s Republican governor denied clemency, rejecting the inmate’s petition – backed by more than 70 correctional officers and others – for a commutation of his sentence to life in prison.

Dorsey and his attorneys cited his remorse, his rehabilitation while behind bars and his representation at trial by attorneys who allegedly had a “financial conflict of interest” as reasons he should not be put to death. But those arguments were insufficient to convince Gov. Mike Parson, who said in a statement carrying out Dorsey’s sentence “would deliver justice and provide closure.”

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    This is what happens when you give the state the power of life and death over its citizens. Even the people who make up the low levels of power in the state have no actual voice when it comes to the state committing legally-sanctioned murder.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Really? Then why is Anders Breivik still alive?

        Somehow, Norway has not murdered him despite the fact that he murdered dozens of children.

  • Nobody@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    He was murdered by the state. That’s what the “death penalty” is. It’s state-sanctioned murder. Barbarous.

    • sugarfree@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Murder means an unlawful killing, a lawful killing as in this case is the opposite of a murder. For an example of a true murder, look no further than the actions of the executed man: he killed his cousin and her husband after calling them for help.

      • Nobody@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        He also had a well-documented history of mental illness, which would have been a defense to the death penalty, and an exemplary record as an inmate. More than 70 correctional officers signed the petition begging for him not to be murdered by the state.

        And murder is the intentional killing of a human being. The fact that someone signs a piece of paper that says it’s okay doesn’t change the nature of the act.

        • zaph@sh.itjust.works
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          9 months ago

          And murder is the intentional killing of a human being.

          I looked it up and every definition website includes that it has to be illegal to be considered murder. By your definition every instance of self-defense is murder.

        • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          And murder is the intentional killing of a human being

          No it isn’t. Murder is illegal killing of someone else. No reasonable person is going to call you a murderer if you kill someone who is trying to kill you and you reasonably believe you have no other choice.

          You’re thinking of the term homicide, which isn’t always murder.

      • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml
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        9 months ago

        Ex ept this smells like they got the wrong guy.

        Oh well, more meat for the pile.

        When I take control of Missouri, I will make existing as a human in Missouri a crime mandatorily punished by death.

  • quindraco@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    It’s insane to me that he couldn’t appeal on the basis of not having been provided an attorney with an incentive to work on his case.

  • arthurpizza@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    We need to abolish the death penalty in this country. This simply should not be a thing we do.

  • meep_launcher@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    The state should not have the right to end your life if you pose no immediate harm to anyone.

    Death isn’t justice. It’s just death.

    • Baylahoo@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I strongly agree with you. I’m not against assisted suicide the same way I’m not against it for non incarcerated people. The only time I would agree with nonoptional state enforced death penalty is if the person is such a danger that they can either not be contained or are somehow able to continue to do direct harm despite all efforts of containment. This would be like trying to imprison evil Superman or professor X. Extremes only fiction has been able to create. This person wasn’t even close. I am wary of assisted suicide for the incarcerated only because consent isn’t a strong value for prison systems and could be faked/forcibly encouraged etc.

  • ctkatz@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    is it really that much of a surprise that the most conservative and conservative christian states really love imposing the harshest old testament level punishments on as many people as possible?

    forgiveness and rehabilitation? that sounds like something christ would do. fuck that, string him up on the old maple tree in the park so we can make an example out of him.

    notice the same states proudly claiming to be pro life lead the nation in infant mortality, post birth mortality, and death sentences. it only shows that “pro life” only emphasizes the developing life, not any of it fully developed.

    • Manmoth@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      The death penalty is anti-christian imo. Man’s judgement is fallible and we are all made in the image of God.

      • wolfpack86@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        And the masses that use religion to abuse others don’t give a shit.

        Jesus would also be a raging socialist.

        • Manmoth@lemmy.ml
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          9 months ago

          And the [blank] that use [blank] to abuse others don’t give a shit

          Anyone can misuse anything to harm someone

          Jesus would also be a raging socialist.

          Jesus was more or less apolitical in the gospel (e.g. “render unto caesar what is caesar’s” )

          He clearly states that to whom much is given much will be required though ergo almsgiving is a critical part of the faith.

          • Baylahoo@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            He may have been apolitical for his time (you’d have to ask him personally to know), but many teachings align with socialism. It just relies on the individual to do it themselves instead of being state enforced. “you do you but also heaven won’t accept you if you don’t share wealth”. Final judgement would stand in for corporeal laws in this case. When people don’t subscribe to that and it actively lets people suffer, teachings might not be enough.

            • Manmoth@lemmy.ml
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              9 months ago

              It just relies on the individual to do it themselves instead of being state enforced.

              Pretty much this. Christ’s teachings focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving at a personal and corporate (church) level regardless of which government is in power.

  • foggy@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Our country has gotten grim over the last decade, and if you don’t see it, that’s scary.

  • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    “Hey, now don’t kill anyone, or else we’ll kill you.”

    It really is a weird take. Also, our justice system routinely jails people who are innocent. This reason is why I oppose the death penalty in most cases.

  • hakase@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    ITT: Users who regularly advocate for actual physical violence and bloodshed over differences of opinion in the name of the “Paradox of Tolerance”, suddenly clutching their pearls in defense of a literal murderer and rapist.