Crist signs death warrant for park ranger killer

FLORIDA—-new execution date

Gov. Charlie Crist signed a death warrant for Martin Grossman, convicted
of murdering a Pinellas County wildlife officer in 1984. Grossman is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. Read More

The Florida Supreme Court denies a death-sentence appeal Thursday

Bill Cotterell
Florida Capital Bureau

The Florida Supreme Court denied a death-sentence appeal Thursday in the case of a Fort Myers man who refused to let lawyers show mitigating facts that might have kept him off of Death Row.

After being found guilty of murder, the court said, Mark Twilegar waived a jury in the penalty phase of his trial. The ruling said he stated, “I would rather do the death penalty and just get it over with.” He filed an affidavit saying presentation of mitigating factors would violate his right to privacy, amount to an admission of guilt and violate his religious rights.

Twilegar was convicted of fatally shooting David Thomas in Fort Myers on Aug. 7, 2002.

Execution stayed ….

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the execution of a triple murderer and expressed frustration over Gov. Charlie Crist’s decision to sign a death warrant while the killer still had appeals pending.

From tampabay.com

Paul Beasley Johnson lawyer seek stay.

The Ledger.com reports Stay of Execution effort

Death Warrant for Paul Johnson plus TCADP activites.

Dear TCADP members,

Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a Death Warrant for Paul Johnson who is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, November 4th at 6:00 pm at the Florida State Prison near Starke.

Paul Johnson was convicted for the 1981 killing of Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Theron Burnam, Winter Haven taxi driver William Evans and Lakeland painter Darrell Beasley.

If this execution proceeds, TCAD will hold a  vigil at 6 p.m. outside of the governor’s mansion the day of the execution, and it will hold a commemoration for the Paul Johnson, Theron Burnham, William Evans and Darrell Beasley at noon the next day in the atrium of  the state capitol.
—- Read More

Judd launched petition for execution

Crist Signs Death Warrant for Murderer

Paul Beasley Johnson was convicted of killing a sheriff’s deputy, 2 others in 1981. Appeal pending before Fla. Supreme Court.

By Suzie Schottelkotte & Jason Geary
THE LEDGER

Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 10:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 10:56 p.m.

LAKELAND | A week after Polk Sheriff Grady Judd initiated an online petition seeking condemned cop killer Paul Beasley Johnson’s execution, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a death warrant Wednesday for Johnson, who murdered a sheriff’s deputy and two others in January 1981.

Paul Beasley Johnson was brought this morning from death row to be in court for a case management hearing in Bartow, Fla. on Friday March 21, 2003. Read More

Forum to focus on Florida Death Penalty

FORUM Weds. Sept. 16 TO FOCUS ON FLORIDA DEATH PENALTY

Three years after the American Bar Association completed one of the most comprehensive studies to date on the fairness and accuracy of the death penalty in Florida, some of the state’s best legal minds will gather at The Florida State University to examine the ABA’s findings and discuss what, if anything, has changed in the administration of capital punishment. Read More

Important forum event. Plan to attend.

Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty Vigil, Service

John Marek is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, August 19. Please join us at the Governor’s mansion at 5:45 p.m. Aug. 19 for a prayer vigil for Mr. Marek.
On Thurs., Aug. 20th, at noon, please join us for the Service of Remembrance for John Marek and victim, Adella Simmons at the Rotunda at the Great Seal at the Capitol.

Louise Ritchie
Chairperson, TCADP

Execution date set in Florida

Execution date set in Florida

If this execution is held, Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty will hold a vigil at 6 p.m. that day at the governor’s mansion and will follow it by a service of remembrance   at noon the next day at the capital rotunda for the accused killer and the victim.

“TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Charlie Crist has set a date — for the second time — for the execution of John Richard Marek.
Marek is to be executed Aug. 19. He was originally scheduled to die by lethal injection May 13 for the 1983 kidnapping, rape and murder of Adella Marie Simmons in Broward County.

The Supreme Court put the execution on hold May 11, allowing Marek time to argue his accomplice, Raymond Wigley, was the actual killer. The court lifted the stay Thursday and the execution was rescheduled Friday.