Serial rapist and killer lashed, hanged in Iran

[SkinsNut73]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7209473/

23-year-old convicted of slaying 16 boys
executed in town where crimes occurred

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050316/050316_iran_hanging_vmed.vmedium.jpg

Two Iranian police officers watch as Mohammed Bijeh, convicted of raping and murdering 16 children, is hanged Wednesday in Pakdasht, Iran.

The Associated Press

Updated: 2:26 p.m. ET March 16, 2005PAKDASHT, Iran - A young man convicted of raping and murdering 16 boys was lashed 100 times, and then hanged Wednesday in front of a large, angry crowd who pelted him with stones and scuffled with police.



Mohammed Bijeh, 23, confessed in court to raping and murdering the children, between March and September 2004. Iranian media have said Bijeh burned the bodies of his victims, all boys between 8 and 15.

Bijeh was sentenced to one death sentence for each murder he confessed and 100 lashes of the whip for the rapes.

An accomplice, Ali Gholampour, was acquitted of involvement in the murders but was convicted of taking part in some of the kidnappings, to which he confessed. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 100 lashes.

Execution in town where murders occurred
Bijeh’s verdict was carried out in Pakdasht, a small, impoverished town about 19 miles southeast of Tehran, after being upheld by the Supreme Court. It was the same town where the murders took place.

Approximately 5,000 spectators — including women and children — gathered to watch the flogging and hanging. Riot police circled the area.

Some in the crowd threw stones at Bijeh as he was flogged, shirtless and hands tied to an iron pole. He fell to his knees three times as he received the lashes.

A relative of one of the victims broke police security and attacked Bijeh with a knife, wounding his back before police dragged him away.

After the flogging, a rope was put around Bijeh’s neck and attached to a hook on a crane. The crane’s arm jerked upward and Bijeh’s body dangled, drawing applause from the crowd.

Some people burst into tears, crying out the names of their injured children. Some shouted, “Shame on you, Bijeh!”

After about 20 minutes, the body was lowered and a doctor confirmed Bijeh was dead.

Scuffles after sentence carried out
Many in the crowd, some of them other family members of the victims, repeatedly tried to approach Bijeh’s body but were prevented by riot police. Scuffles continued for at least half an hour.

The case provoked national outrage in Iran. Sixteen police officers were reprimanded for dereliction of duty and the Interior Ministry criticized the police for failing to catch the suspects after the first crime.

Many of the people in Pakdasht supported the hanging.

“Public executions reduce the occurrence of offenses. Bijeh destroyed many families. He deserved more than death,” said resident Zahra Khaleghi.

But Dariush Mehraban said public hangings only promote violence.

“Many criminals have been hanged, but offenses have never reduced. It’s an ugly scene that a human being is hanged even if he has committed many crimes. Revenge is not the solution,” said Merhraban, who watched the hanging.

Convicts are hanged in public in Iran only if a court deems that their offenses deeply affected public sentiment.

Iranian courts are controlled by hard-liners. Iranian reformists say public executions hurt the country’s international image and reflect badly on Islam.

[Prosperity]

a prime example of how the death penalty does not deter crime

[NASMTrainer]

:rolleyes:



:notworthy: :applause:

[chomerics]

Originally posted by Liberty
a prime example of how the death penalty does not deter crime

No, it does not deter crime, but it saves tax dollars.

[manichispanic]

Originally posted by chomerics


No, it does not deter crime, but it saves tax dollars.

it saves $$ when you're hung from a crane with some Home Depot rope

[Prosperity]

Originally posted by chomerics


No, it does not deter crime, but it saves tax dollars.

Not if you factor in the appelate process (here not Iran).

[chomerics]

Originally posted by Liberty


Not if you factor in the appelate process (here not Iran).

The appelate process does add a lot, but I don't think it equals the cost of $32K/year for 50 years. I am for the death penalty, but I also think it should be used only in 1st degree murder, or killing a law enforcement officer. I also think the death penalty should not be allowed if there is no DNA evidence linking the crime.

For example, OJ could get gassed, but Scott Peterson could not.

[dreamingwolf]

Originally posted by chomerics


I also think the death penalty should not be allowed if there is no DNA evidence linking the crime.

For example, OJ could get gassed, but Scott Peterson could not.

only problem with that depends on what you call DNA evidence? Is fingerprints dna? Eyewittnesses are certainally not DNA evidence. Now, I agree in the peterson case there was very little hard evidence to convict him, but I dont think anyone really has a doubt about him. I would be curious on the odds on him confessing before they inject him.

Also, I think your figure on 32k might be kinda low. DP inmates cost more and that number is more of a medium range cost. The point is spot on though, especially when you figure in that the appelate and trial costs for life in prison without parole is roughly the same as death penalty trials and appeals.

[Prosperity]

Killing is only justified in self defense, and 32k a year might be the average cost of keeping a prisoner, but it wouldn't bring down costs much since the # on death row is relatively low and we would still have to keep the prisons and guards around for the rest of the prisoners.

[twa]

Originally posted by Liberty
a prime example of how the death penalty does not deter crime
I am fairly sure he will never commit another crime :cool:

[herrmag]

Originally posted by twa

I am fairly sure he will never commit another crime :cool:

Exactly:notworthy

[Prosperity]

Originally posted by herrmag


Exactly:notworthy
society would be equally safe if he was in jail

[twa]

Originally posted by Liberty

society would be equally safe if he was in jail But not the guards or other inmates. I believe in a high level of proof ,But some of these people don't deserve to breathe the same air as us.:2cents:

[TheSteve]

What exactly is the Government doing if 32K per prisoner is the cost for life in prison? All they do is fight, sleep, eat, and exercise!

People in the military get less than that as a starters salary:laugh:

[nelms]

Originally posted by Liberty
a prime example of how the death penalty does not deter crime
And your point is? Who cares if the death penalty is a deterrent or not. I know I don't. It is punishment. Plain and simple.

[Sarge]

If I'm ever elected as governor of any state, the first thing I'm gonna do is call all the prisons in the state and tell them that by sunrise tomorrow, I want an empty death row and a big electric bill.

Dead criminals don't cost anything, and certainly don't commit more crimes when some lib lawyers gets them sprung early from prison

[Ancalagon the Black]

Originally posted by Sarge
Dead criminals don't cost anything, and certainly don't commit more crimes when some lib lawyers gets them sprung early from prison

And it's pretty tough to resurrect those who have been wrongfully executed.

[chomerics]

Originally posted by Ancalagon the Black


And it's pretty tough to resurrect those who have been wrongfully executed.

kill 'em all, let god sort em out. Ain't that the motto ;)

[dreamingwolf]

all crime should just be a payable fine. If capital punishment makes the state a murderer, then imprisonment makes the state a gay dungeon master - emo williams.

All this punishment just confuses the lbs.

[MaddogCT]

Before jumping on the plunger to kill everyone on death row, take a look at

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

There are people who are sentenced to die who are innocent. And there have been innocent people put to death at the hands of the goverment. The goverment is run by people. People make mistakes. I just hope I don't become one.


:logo:

[Sarge]

I'm for one appeal. Then I'm for Old Sparky

[MaddogCT]

Originally posted by Sarge
I'm for one appeal. Then I'm for Old Sparky


So killing an innocent person doesn't bother you?

[nelms]

There are people who are sentenced to die who are innocent. And there have been innocent people put to death at the hands of the goverment. The goverment is run by people. People make mistakes. I just hope I don't become one.
So, I guess you're saying that you wouldn't have supported fighting WWII and the Nazis because some innocent civilians inevitably would get killed in the war.

I view the death penalty as war. War against evil monsters like Scott Petersen and other scum bags like him. Petersen is a psychopath, just like Hitler was. Of course, on a much smaller scale, but a psychopath nonetheless. The death penalty guarantees one thing - that these evil bastards will never kill again.

[Zuck]

Originally posted by chomerics


The appelate process does add a lot, but I don't think it equals the cost of $32K/year for 50 years. I am for the death penalty, but I also think it should be used only in 1st degree murder, or killing a law enforcement officer. I also think the death penalty should not be allowed if there is no DNA evidence linking the crime.

For example, OJ could get gassed, but Scott Peterson could not.


Actually, that's not true. It costs more to put someone to death than it does to keep them locked up their whole life.

[SkinsNut73]

Originally posted by Sarge
If I'm ever elected as governor of any state, the first thing I'm gonna do is call all the prisons in the state and tell them that by sunrise tomorrow, I want an empty death row and a big electric bill.

Dead criminals don't cost anything, and certainly don't commit more crimes when some lib lawyers gets them sprung early from prison

LMAO :notworthy

Caught me off guard...I had Pepsi coming out of my nostrils I was laughing so hard...

[Predicto]

Here we go again.

I'm too busy at work these days to argue the same things over and over.


*paging Kilmer 17*
*paging Kilmer17*

[SkinsNut73]

Originally posted by Zuck



Actually, that's not true. It costs more to put someone to death than it does to keep them locked up their whole life.

Do you know this to be true or are you just repeating something you've heard before? I'm not trying to be a piss-head...honest. I've heard that same statement at least 100 times, but I've never seen any proof to back it up. I personally find that very hard to believe...though I could be convinced if I saw proof. Just doesn't make sense to me...

[Predicto]

I know it to be true.

I work for a state Supreme Court, the place where death penalty cases all end up and the place where the costs are allocated.

It is absolutely true. There is no case as complicated as a death penalty defense. The records alone run into the tens of thousands of pages. The briefs are hundreds of pages long. Every possible issue must be examined because the consequences of a mistake are so drastic and cannot be undone.

It is a lot cheaper to leave them to rot in prison. The prison is already there, up and running. Its really the cost of a few extra meals and guards.

In addition, the death penalty cases clog up the courts at the highest levels, where the courts could be deciding something more useful for society as a whole. But instead we are forced to deal with these fact-specific hugely complicated cases.

[Ignatius J.]

See that's the problem predicto, the trial....

it would be way cheaper if we just didn't have death penalty cases. That way we could all sleep easier knowing that none of these monsters got off due to lsnotty liberal lawyers.

Why does a murderer even deserve a trial? Why not just shoot him as soon as you catch him and save us all a few bucks? Briefs are expensive, bullets are cheap.

[SkinsNut73]

Originally posted by Predicto
I know it to be true.

I work for a state Supreme Court, the place where death penalty cases all end up and the place where the costs are allocated.

It is absolutely true. There is no case as complicated as a death penalty defense. The records alone run into the tens of thousands of pages. The briefs are hundreds of pages long. Every possible issue must be examined because the consequences of a mistake are so drastic and cannot be undone.

It is a lot cheaper to leave them to rot in prison. The prison is already there, up and running. Its really the cost of a few extra meals and guards.

In addition, the death penalty cases clog up the courts at the highest levels, where the courts could be deciding something more useful for society as a whole. But instead we are forced to deal with these fact-specific hugely complicated cases.

I see your point. I was hoping for "facts" or some sort of study...but I'll take your word for it since your occupation is along these lines.

But in the article which started the thread (and I realize it's from Iran) the man confessed to raping and murdering children. Surely "Every possible issue must be examined because the consequences of a mistake are so drastic and cannot be undone" would not apply...or maybe should say should not apply.

We have a case here in Connecticut where a man has confessed to raping and killing 4 women, and there is strong evidence to suggest he has killed another 4. After sitting on death row for 20 years, it was finally time to give him the lethal injection he deserves...and the great thing is this guy wants to die. He's not arguing it at all. BUT...we had some "group" stand up and challenge his death sentence...saying he obviously cannot be competent if he wants to die...and so they went to court on his behalf and the execution has been stayed twice....and the guy still wants to die.

You want to say we don't have hard DNA evidence (or whatever) that links this guy to the crime - okay. But when these guys admit to their heinous crimes...put them to death. And save money doing it. No need for endless appeals.

[chomerics]

Originally posted by MaddogCT
Before jumping on the plunger to kill everyone on death row, take a look at

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

There are people who are sentenced to die who are innocent. And there have been innocent people put to death at the hands of the goverment. The goverment is run by people. People make mistakes. I just hope I don't become one.


:logo:

That's why I think the death penalty should only be used when there is "irrefutable evidence" (DNA and yes I do consider fingerprints DNA) the defendent committed the crime.

The one problem I have with the death penalty is to putan innocent man to death. That is a travesty we should try to avoid at all costs.

[skinsfan080]

I agree with Chom. If there is indesputable evidence, absolutley indesputable...I say the hell with em'. This kid admitted the crime so I have no problem with this.

[Predicto]

But what is absolutely completely indisputable? It is a very very hard line to draw. Are you capable of drawing it witout making a mistake? I'm not.

In the past, people have confessed to crimes that they did not commit. Eyewitnesses have made mistaken identifications, often completely in good faith. Police have planted evidence. The actual criminals have planted evidence to frame someone else. Test results have been botched. People have lied. Heck, just to throw some gasoline on the fire: some people really truly are insane.

If you just lock them up and throw away the key, you protect society and punish them. And if, god forbid, it turns out that you got the wrong guy, well, at least he can have some of his life back.

[Renegade7]

Originally posted by Liberty

society would be equally safe if he was in jail

The man's a rapist and killed 16 kids. I say they went kinda easy on him, especially considering that this is Iran we're talking about.

[Phat Hog]

Originally posted by Liberty

society would be equally safe if he was in jail

yea, but I would have to pay for his residence - I can't agree with you unless you are willing to discuss some type of hard labor camp where they are performing some sort of service to the public to balance their cost.

[Coach Williams]

After 100 lashes I'd be ready to die too.......man......

Ya know what though.....

100 lashes......I bet anyone who gets that and lives becomes a saint:laugh:....

I stub my toe and I spend the rest of the day thinking, " well now what did I do to desearve that?!?!"

Karma is a beast.......

[MaddogCT]

Here is an example where some confesses for you and you get the needle.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/case/display_profile.php?id=148

Ryan Matthews spent five years on Louisiana’s death row for a crime he did not commit. Seventeen years old at the time he was arrested, Matthews was sentenced to death for the shooting death of Tommy Vanhoose, a convenience store owner, in Bridge City, Louisiana. DNA testing results both exonerated Matthews and revealed the identity of the actual perpetrator.

In April 1997, a man wearing a ski masked entered Vanhoose’s store and demanded money. When Vanhoose refused, the perpetrator shot him four times and fled, taking off his mask and diving into the passenger side window of an awaiting car.

There were several eyewitnesses to who viewed the perpetrator’s flight. One witness was in her car and watched the perpetrator run from the store, fire shots in her direction, and leap into a car. When she was later showed a photographic array, she tentatively identified Matthews as the assailant. By the time of trial, she was sure that Matthews was the gunman.

Two other witnesses, in the same car, watched as the perpetrator shed his mask, gloves, and shirt as he fled. The driver claimed to have seen the perpetrator’s face in his rearview mirror while he was being shot at and trying to block the escape. This witness and his passenger were brought to a show-up hours later. The driver identified Matthews. His passenger was unable to make an identification.

Ryan Matthews and Travis Hayes, both seventeen at the time, were stopped several hours after the crime because the car they were riding in resembled the description of the getaway car. They were arrested and Hayes was then questioned for over six hours. In his initial statements to investigators, Hayes claimed that he and Matthews were not in the area when the crime occurred. Hayes eventually confessed that he was the driver of the getaway car. He stated that Matthews went into the store, shots went off, and Matthews ran out and got into the car. Both boys were described as borderline mentally retarded.

In 1999, based mainly on the identifications, Matthews was convicted of murder and was sentenced to die. Hayes was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life.

Matthews had maintained his innocence since arrest. The defense presented evidence that forensic testing of the mask excluded both Matthews and Hayes. A defense expert also testified that the car that the two boys were driving - the reason they were stopped - could not have been the getaway car because the passenger side window that Matthews allegedly jumped through was inoperable and could not be rolled down. Other witnesses to the crime described the shooter as being much shorter than Matthews.

Continued defense investigation by William Sothern and Clive Stafford Smith of the Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center and DNA testing in another murder case proved to be the keys to proving Matthews’ innocence. Another murder occurred shortly after Vanhoose’s death in the same area. A local resident, Rondell Love, was arrested and pled guilty. Love bragged to other inmates that he also killed Vanhoose, prompting Matthews’ attorneys to begin investigating Love. DNA test results from the second murder were compared to results from the Matthews conviction, indicating that Love had been wearing the mask that was left behind in the Vanhoose murder. Testing on the mask, gloves, and shirt had already excluded Matthews and Hayes, but these results became conclusive after Love’s profile was included.

Over a year after this information was discovered, Matthews was granted a new trial. He was released in June 2004, on bond, as he awaited a new trial. In August 2004, prosecutors asked the court to lift the bond and vacate the conviction. Attorneys for Hayes are still fighting his conviction.

Matthews became the 14th death row inmate in the United States proven innocent by postconviction DNA testing.

:logo:

[dreamingwolf]

if you want to make dna evidence sole prover on capital cases lets set up the dna database. all citizens have to submit to it, and illegals since we wont do anything about them.

Now doesnt that suck. That means that all of us have to be on record not just the saps that got caught and required to guilty or not. The richer and smarter monkeys can kill without leaving any dna so that means again only the less resourcefull still get executed. To you douche bags that think the monkey comment was racist I say wash your ass. We are all monkeys. Thats why when you put a monkey into an episode the ratings go up, we love our own. I cant defend bj and the bear though.

People who seek perfection are addicts, crack junkies who ignore reality to attain their desire.