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Offhand I can’t remember another case in which a prosecutor who’s on record as opposing capital punishment has changed their mind and sought death for a particular defendant. That’s because objections to capital punishment are usually framed in moral terms. Some opponents believe the state shouldn’t have the awesome power to take a citizen’s life. Others believe the risk of executing an inmate who’s actually innocent is too great a criticism with special relevance lately.
D.A.s who support capital punishment in principle frequently opt not to seek it in particular murder cases. But I’ve never heard of a D.A. who opposes capital punishment opting to seek it anyway. Until now.
(CNN) -Â Robert Aaron Long, the suspect in the shootings that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area Asian spas, has been indicted on murder charges, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for hate crimes targeting the sex and race of the victims.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed notice with the Fulton Superior Court Tuesday that she plans to seek the death penalty and enhanced hate crimes charges against Long in the first test of a hate crime law passed by the Georgia Legislature last year. I, along with my staff, have made a determination that this office will seek the death penalty, Willis told reporters. Last year, I told the voters of Fulton County that I could not imagine a circumstance where I would seek it. And at that time I did not.
Accused gunman in spa shootings indicted on murder charges in second county
By Alex Whittler and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published
Man accused of Atlanta area spa shootings charged in two counties
The Fulton County District Attorney said a man accused of mass shootings at three Atlanta area spas is pursuing the death penalty. The Cherokee County district attorney said capital punishment is on the table.
ATLANTA - The man accused of killing eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, was indicted Tuesday In Fulton and later Cherokee counties.
Grand juries indicted Robert Aaron Long, 22, on murder charges, and a Fulton County prosecutor filed notice that she ll also seek hate crime charges and the death penalty.
A man accused of killing eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses was indicted Tuesday on