Death sentence upheld in 1st case under 1994 Kansas law

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Death sentence upheld in 1st case under 1994 Kansas law
Oct 21, 4:25 PM EDT
By JIM SUHR
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas' highest court on Friday upheld the death sentence of the first prisoner condemned in the state in three decades.

The Kansas Supreme Court let stand Gary Kleypas' death sentence in the 1996 rape and stabbing death of 20-year-old Pittsburg State University student Carrie Williams. The Topeka-based high court, in its 166-page ruling, did throw out Kleypas' conviction of attempted rape and ordered him resentenced for aggravated burglary.

"Considering the errors we have found singularly and cumulatively, we hold that Kleypas' sentence of death was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor," Justice Marla Luckert wrote for the court's majority.

Justice Lee Johnson dissented, reiterating his view that the death penalty is unconstitutionally cruel or unusual punishment.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KANSAS_FIRST_CAPITAL_CASE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-10-21-16-25-35

[citood]

1. AP is being very confusing

"Kansas' highest court on Friday upheld the death sentence of the first prisoner condemned in the state in three decades."

I don't know where to start, but the statement is confusing. This guy was convicted a long time ago...the first death sentence after a 30 year moratorium...but he was convicted in the late 90's. And around a dozen people since then have been sentenced to death - the last one around 5 years ago.

I don't really know why we have it. Nobody has been executed since 1965, and I'd bet that the state doesn't possess the drugs needed to carry out an execution. The death penalty in Kansas is essentially a life sentence.