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Judi Lynn

(164,122 posts) Tue Apr 2, 2013, 02:55 AM Apr 2013

Ohio man who sexually assaulted baby seeks mercy [View all]

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Tuesday, 04.02.13
Ohio man who sexually assaulted baby seeks mercy
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
AP Legal Affairs Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A condemned Ohio killer is making an unusual plea for mercy ahead of his scheduled execution next month.

Attorneys for Steven Smith are arguing that while Smith intended to sexually assault his girlfriend's 6-month-old daughter, he never intended to kill the girl.

Smith's attorneys say evidence shows the baby died because Smith was too drunk to realize his sexual assault was killing the child.

Smith's attorneys say Ohio law is clear that a death sentence must involve an intent to kill the victim.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/02/3318757/ohio-man-who-sexually-assaulted.html#storylink=cpy

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/02/3318757/ohio-man-who-sexually-assaulted.html#storylink=cpy

105 replies

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Ohio man who sexually assaulted baby seeks mercy [View all] Judi Lynn Apr 2013 OP

I thought I was against the death penalty ...until now. nt kelliekat44 Apr 2013 #1

I know what you mean. pnwmom Apr 2013 #18

cases like this make it very hard. nt awoke_in_2003 Apr 2013 #27

EXACTLY!! SkyDaddy7 Apr 2013 #49

Yes, but if you accept the death penalty now Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #30

Post removed Post removed Apr 2013 #62

I understand your dilema. I go through it, too when this type of case appears.... marble falls Apr 2013 #32

What a sicko LeftInTX Apr 2013 #2

And you know he will repeat this particular crime again, how? marble falls Apr 2013 #34

And you can guarantee that he won't, how? atreides1 Apr 2013 #51

I can't guarentee you won't, let's lock you up to be sure. What? You've never ever ..... marble falls Apr 2013 #74

But he DID do it, ergo he must be punished geek tragedy Apr 2013 #96

There's punishment and justice and then there's getting even and cruel and unsual ... marble falls Apr 2013 #97

It's not cruel and unusual to lock a murderer/rapist geek tragedy Apr 2013 #98

There is no firm data on recidivism rate for child molesters but professionals think it is near 100% fasttense Apr 2013 #58

Are you suggesting some new moral mzmolly Apr 2013 #68

because as soon as this kind of blind drunk drinks again his penis takes over Sunlei Apr 2013 #84

There is a special place in Hell for this man. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #3

I have to agree. He's been using oxygen for 15 years since he killed that baby. freshwest Apr 2013 #6

He has been polluting this earth far too long. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #10

Ah, no, he'll leave this life painlessly. Unlike that baby. See my reply below. freshwest Apr 2013 #12

See My suggestion to your answer for the remainder of his demented life. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #13

There is no such thing as hell, that's why we do our judgments here snooper2 Apr 2013 #43

I know intent is narrow in the law. But he wasn't doing it for her health. freshwest Apr 2013 #4

Capital punishment the is too kind. Incarcerate him with other rapist. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #11

No, he just needs to leave this plane of existance. We don't condone extra judicial punishments. freshwest Apr 2013 #14

Post removed Post removed Apr 2013 #15

I don't know that prisoners would hurt him, is what I'm saying. I'm not kind to him; I'm ice cold. freshwest Apr 2013 #19

I do agree with you. My anger over this behavior is rage_against_rape. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #21

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't get a warm reception from his fellow prisoners. Aristus Apr 2013 #54

Aristus, he's been in prison for 15 years already and he wants to spend his life there. Just sayin' freshwest Apr 2013 #64

My father was prison during my formative years... LanternWaste Apr 2013 #86

Again, Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #31

I'm with you 100%. It's cheaper to house an inmate for life when compared to all that is involved firenewt Apr 2013 #41

Absolutely! Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #61

I agree. Plus, life in prison would be much, much worse than death. Arugula Latte Apr 2013 #85

The mercy of a quick death should be the extent of it. MrSlayer Apr 2013 #5

If this isn't a capital offense BainsBane Apr 2013 #7

No mercy... ReRe Apr 2013 #8

I turned against the death penalty LadyHawkAZ Apr 2013 #9

Yep Doctor_J Apr 2013 #36

Death penalty is about revenge - understandable, but still WRONG AAO Apr 2013 #44

The only mercy he deserves Andy Stanton Apr 2013 #16

The baby would have liked mercy also, were she old enough to speak. liberalla Apr 2013 #17

"I'm just a child rapist, not a cold-blooded murderer, Your Honor!" PolitFreak Apr 2013 #20

Almost just lost my breakfast. Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #22

I may be alone on this but I oppose the death penalty across the board cali Apr 2013 #23

Pretty basic rule...thou shall not kill. peace13 Apr 2013 #38

It cheapens the value of life - same as the murderer did. AAO Apr 2013 #45

Bingo. n/t peace13 Apr 2013 #53

I oppose it too. But that's cold comfort sometimes. n/t DisgustipatedinCA Apr 2013 #95

if he doesn't get a swift death penalty, let him spend his life in a dark hole in solitary wordpix Apr 2013 #24

Life in solitary... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2013 #28

I can think of a lot of things he deserves. historylovr Apr 2013 #25

Death is too merciful. riqster Apr 2013 #26

In this case, the death penalty IS mercy demwing Apr 2013 #29

mercy would be putting him to death madrchsod Apr 2013 #33

I think I'll leave that to God Doctor_J Apr 2013 #35

So why did your god allow or cause this in the first place? Arugula Latte Apr 2013 #76

Exactly Doctor_J Apr 2013 #77

Somehow I don't think that argument will hold water. peace13 Apr 2013 #37

Did he show the baby mercy? musical_soul Apr 2013 #39

Nothing will undo what he did moobu2 Apr 2013 #40

I really can't get my mind around someone who could look at a six month old baby girl Sheldon Cooper Apr 2013 #42

How do we know it wasn't oral sex? AAO Apr 2013 #46

I covered a story like that once (the baby didn't die, though) Blue_Tires Apr 2013 #99

How to show mercy to someone who has no idea of the polly7 Apr 2013 #47

I remember a case in D.C. years ago Blue_Tires Apr 2013 #100

Unreal. polly7 Apr 2013 #101

No deal. In principal opposed to the death penalty, but geek tragedy Apr 2013 #48

{{{{Little baby girl}}}} Helen Reddy Apr 2013 #50

He should be spared, removed from death row, and put into the prison's general population SDjack Apr 2013 #52

. Iggo Apr 2013 #55

Post removed Post removed Apr 2013 #56

......... Marrah_G Apr 2013 #57

Oh my GOD. I thought I opposed the death penalty. I want to oppose the death penalty. Nye Bevan Apr 2013 #59

It's cheaper to incarcerate for life. In Florida the typical total cost to bring an execution... L0oniX Apr 2013 #60

I'm usually against the death penalty but people like this makes it very hard. Third Doctor Apr 2013 #63

Why are women with monsters like this? marshall Apr 2013 #65

Right, let's blame the mom... Samurai_Writer Apr 2013 #66

You misunderstand my question marshall Apr 2013 #70

no one can convince me that someone who would rape a 6-month old chooses to have such compulsions Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #67

He knew enough to do it when others mzmolly Apr 2013 #69

well it's not a normal thought process and I don't see how anyone would consciously choose to have Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #75

It's a choice. Thankfully it's an abnormal mzmolly Apr 2013 #88

I certainly have not compared it with tics and less serious compulsions. But I cannot in my wildest Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #89

If you are delighted by heinous desires mzmolly Apr 2013 #90

I would guess that most people like that live in a constant state of denial Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #91

I would guess that they look for an opportunity, mzmolly Apr 2013 #94

I think there are a very few exceptions, like this guy. AverageJoe90 Apr 2013 #72

In this case... AnneD Apr 2013 #71

I almost cracked my mouse reading that NickB79 Apr 2013 #73

the only mercy for him is lethal injection magical thyme Apr 2013 #78

I Agree Macoy51 Apr 2013 #81

Let him live with what he's done. killbotfactory Apr 2013 #79

He's been in prison for 15 years appealing the death sentence. No, he wants to llive. freshwest Apr 2013 #82

ugh. everything about this case is horrible. nt killbotfactory Apr 2013 #103

Agreed. freshwest Apr 2013 #104

If he gets the mercy of life, my response is that he should be physically castrated. ancianita Apr 2013 #80

Physical castration wouldn't help....rapists can rape with objects, not just their msanthrope Apr 2013 #92

I still think it's about eliminating the number of bullets in your arsenal. ancianita Apr 2013 #105

he layed on top of a baby for 3-5 mins and killed it. being drunk is no excuse for murder. Sunlei Apr 2013 #83

Ten to 30 minutes, according to the medical examiner. Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2013 #87

He pulled clumps of her hair out as he forced her face down, into a pillow, ripping off her diaper. msanthrope Apr 2013 #93

Let us Show Mercy Wolf Frankula Apr 2013 #102