Texas man faces execution after jurors consult Bible to decide fate

[vampirekid.13]

The link to the source I got this from is here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6338320/Texas-man-faces-execution-after-jurors-consult-Bible-to-decide-fate.html

In short, Kristian Oliver burgled a home and killed its owner with the owner's own rifle (beat to death).

When it was his trial just recently, some jurors had copies of the bible with them, using which they controlled his fate.
One of the bible passages used was "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."

I believe this is highly unconstitutional, and could be Texas just trying to break away from the USA.

What do you think about this?

EDIT: I do also think he should have been sentenced to death, but isn't using the bible as evidence sort of illegal?
It's like if I looked upon Harry Potter books when deciding if someone should die...

i agree its stupid to use a bible to decide someones faith, however in this case, the punishment is appropriate.

 

[Jaranja]

...that person should be sentenced to death anyway.
Beating someone to death, as far as I know, is something punishable by execution.
Just because the jurors had their bibles does not mean the burgler should get to escape his fate, or that they necessarily made the wrong call.

Absolutely.

Killing an innocent person (well, innocent as far as you know) is what warrants death, in my eyes.

 

[Tdc2182]

Who cares if the Bible was used (this is coming from an Atheist)? The guy deserves it anyway does he not?

Have you read the bible? Read these parts: http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/index.html
It's fucking insane.

Goddomot Fronk, there goes my idea for the Lego Bible. The internet always beats me to it.

But proves you had a wonderful idea.

I like how this only show the rediculous side of the bible. You have to realize

1.) No one can interpret the original bible, the church has been known to be corrupt and
2.) This was created by someone who obvioulsy hates christianity.
3.) these are legos.... Yeah

 

[Miles Tormani]

Of course if the jurors simply said "guilty" without pulling out some religion's holy book (I don't care which one), we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The only evidence we have that this took place is the words of Amnesty Internation, who got the info from the prisoners defense lawyers. My 2 pence worth is that they are using this legal technicality to make an argument to call for a reprieve, or possibly even call for a mis-trial.

And good luck to them. I don't like the death penalty.

Fair enough. I'm getting tired of this discussion anyway.

 

[Pingieking]

He should be sentenced to death, but he also deserves a retrial by a new jury. The new jury should be the ones that sentence him to death.
No books of any kind should be quoted in a trial unless it is part of the evidence or contains the US legal codes. This is not a knock on the bible, it applies to the Quran, Taoist books, books by Confucius, Lord of the Flies, Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, and millions of other books.

 

[Guy32]

Sorry if Im making light of the subject, but I think its pretty funny that he beat someone to death with a gun. Its like "hey, youre doing it wrong"

 

[captainwillies]

snip

they did the right thing for the wrong reasons.

 

[manaman]

I suppose this forum was destined to become nothing more than a religious flame war (or a political one). It really all comes down to individual moral principle. Does anyone ever walk away from an internet argument with a changed opinion?

Yep. I do all the time. I have just changed my opinion of you on account of that post. I am sorry for being something of a jackass, I think that was due to misunderstandings, and hope you accept my apology. I am a secularist same as you (I am assuming you are secular), but I also vigorously defend the rights of people to practice their religious beliefs without belittlement, scorn, prejudice, or bigotry as long as:-

1. their beliefs don't cause harm to others

and

2. they don't attempt to shove their beliefs down the throats of those who see the world differently.

Funny thing is I know a lot of environmentalists people actually admire, even some of the people who are basically militant atheists. Both could fit quite nicely into your two points, and most people would not even thing of that fanaticism on the same level as religion.

Atheists here, for the most part, seem to have this smug superiority complex that makes them belittle religious beliefs, often without a shred of understanding of the subject. They just repeat lines other people have said.

I am an atheist and I find that behavior detestable.

 

[elitemonkeh]

I suppose this forum was destined to become nothing more than a religious flame war (or a political one). It really all comes down to individual moral principle. Does anyone ever walk away from an internet argument with a changed opinion?

Yep. I do all the time. I have just changed my opinion of you on account of that post. I am sorry for being something of a jackass, I think that was due to misunderstandings, and hope you accept my apology. I am a secularist same as you (I am assuming you are secular), but I also vigorously defend the rights of people to practice their religious beliefs without belittlement, scorn, prejudice, or bigotry as long as:-

1. their beliefs don't cause harm to others

and

2. they don't attempt to shove their beliefs down the throats of those who see the world differently.

Funny thing is I know a lot of environmentalists people actually admire, even some of the people who are basically militant atheists. Both could fit quite nicely into your two points, and most people would not even thing of that fanaticism on the same level as religion.

Atheists here, for the most part, seem to have this smug superiority complex that makes them belittle religious beliefs, often without a shred of understanding of the subject. They just repeat lines other people have said.

I am an atheist and I find that behavior detestable.

I hope you aren't referring to me.

On a different note, people please stop spouting off the same points. I must've seen at least 6 people say "It doesn't matter that the bible was used, the man deserves the death penalty."

It's been said

 

[GoldenCondor]

EDIT: I do also think he should have been sentenced to death, but isn't using the bible as evidence sort of illegal?
It's like if I looked upon Harry Potter books when deciding if someone should die...

You are asking for serious trouble if you compare the Bible to Harry Potter. I'm Christian but not nearly a zealot, and I took offense to that. Just think a bit next time, we don't need any more anons saying the first offensive thing that comes to their mind.

That is what is known as "loading the question" and made the thread completely worthless from the very start. If the op had intended a serious discussion he wouldn't have started the very first post with a conclusion.

This thread wasn't intended as a serious debate or discussion, but as a rant and bait for Christians such as yourself. As such I ask you (and other Christians reading and being offended) to ignore idiots who are not worth your time or energy, and also remember that not all atheists are like that particular... individual. Most atheists are much the same as most Christians - happy to just lead lives without going out of their way to bother and belittle other people for being a bit different.

If what I wrote offended anyone, I'm sorry, it was not intended to. I'm not comparing the bible to harry potter. "The bible is not a source of law, and neither is harry potter" is what I was going at.

 

[Inverse Skies]

There has been some talk of re-instating the death penalty here in Australia, but I doubt it will ever come to anything. I honestly don't believe the death penalty solves anything, hence using something from the Bible in part of the sentencing decision seems rather odd to me. But that is the choice made by the legal system, a system I don't know well enough to truly be able to make a definitive comment about it.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

EDIT: I do also think he should have been sentenced to death, but isn't using the bible as evidence sort of illegal?
It's like if I looked upon Harry Potter books when deciding if someone should die...

You are asking for serious trouble if you compare the Bible to Harry Potter. I'm Christian but not nearly a zealot, and I took offense to that. Just think a bit next time, we don't need any more anons saying the first offensive thing that comes to their mind.

That is what is known as "loading the question" and made the thread completely worthless from the very start. If the op had intended a serious discussion he wouldn't have started the very first post with a conclusion.

This thread wasn't intended as a serious debate or discussion, but as a rant and bait for Christians such as yourself. As such I ask you (and other Christians reading and being offended) to ignore idiots who are not worth your time or energy, and also remember that not all atheists are like that particular... individual. Most atheists are much the same as most Christians - happy to just lead lives without going out of their way to bother and belittle other people for being a bit different.

All Win right here.

I wish every Atheist and Christian shared that sentiment... live and let live. Let everyone have their beliefs and respect each other for being a bit different.

 

[HaloHappy]

Here's my philosophy on murder: "An eye for an eye." If you take a life for anything other than self-defense, yours should be taken as well.

Isn't that the Bible's? Pretty sure i heard that from the bible or Koran or some shit like that.

All tho i do agree with you.

No, it's an ancient code that existed in Egypt I think

 

[BonsaiK]

The death penalty isn't strong enough for a crime like that. It's letting the criminal off very lightly, and it sends a message to society that such a crime is completely acceptable. Those flower-kissing Christian jurors need to realise that the Bible was written a while ago and we have far more effective and brutal punishments for crimes like that now.

 

[HaloHappy]

Here's my philosophy on murder: "An eye for an eye." If you take a life for anything other than self-defense, yours should be taken as well.

Okay scenario. Your Parent(s)/silblings/partner is murdered, you kill the murderer even though he poses no threat to you. Do you deserve to die then.

How about next time I keep my mouth shut?

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

The Bible is their moral code.

And whole idea is to deal punishment in the severity they see fit. It's just that someone wrote down what they think is right.

 

[ArmandNorthwind]

"In Texas, if you kill somebody, we will kill you back. Thats the law." Ron White said it best.