Tsarnaev has been sentenced to death for the killings at the Boston Marathon. Holmes is currently pleading insanity to avoid the death sentence. If the prosecution had agreed he would have been sentenced to life imprisonment and be considered sane. Tsarnaev was tried in a federal court, Holmes in a Colorado court, are 12 deaths in Colorado less important that 2 deaths in Massachusetts? Does it depend on the court which has authority? ( I won't get into the 12+ deaths at Ford Hood.)
Not sure exactly what the question here is, but I'll try:
1. Tsarnaev was tried Federally 'cuz any bombing is considered a Federal crime. The Feds will rarely give up jurisdiction.
2. Holmes is being tried in the State 'cuz there aren't any Federal charges that apply--the shootings didn't happen on a Federal Installation; they weren't done by a weapon of mass destruction; it wasn't an abduction that crossed state lines; nor was it a bank robbery...I'm sure there are other crimes that always bring Federal charges, I've only named but a few. Bottom line: the state has complete jurisdiction in this case.
3. There were more than two deaths in the Massachusetts case--there were four.
4. This isn't a matter of "less importance" versus "more importance". It is a matter of the legal system and in what court system cases can be tried.
5. The deaths at Fort Hood: a) They happened on a Federal Installation. b) The shooter in this case was military, so the military had jurisdiction...not the Feds (though the military is part of the Feds) or the state. Had it been a civilian shooting on a military installation, then it would have been considered a federal crime & would have been tried in a federal court. The military judicial system is not the same as the State Judicial system or the Federal judicial system, though in some cases it is similar.
6. Holmes is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity because his attorneys think that is the best way to get him out of spending his life in prison, at the least, or death, at the most. He has documented mental health issues and the Defense is using these to plea their case. Its worth a try, though IMHO, I don't believe the jury in that case will find him not guilty by reason of insanity.
Denver Post had a story months ago about how hard it was to get a temporary insanity ruling. Hopefully it doesn't happen here either.
Tsarnev is now apologizing for his crimes, think he really means it? Just a goofed up kid under the influence of his brother, or a true radical who is only upset the bombs didn't kill and maim more?
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
We need to create a real life Thunderdome...two men enter, one man leaves. The survivor gets life in the worst rathole prison in the country. Justice served and only a killer kills a killer. My money would be on Holmes (pay-per-view proceeds go to all victims and victim families).
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
