Post by janet on Jul 30, 2008 9:49:36 GMT -5
BARBOUR FREED 3 DOMESTIC KILLERS, AT LEAST
The Jackson Free Press has learned that at least three of the six criminals getting relief from Gov. Haley Barbour killed their former or current wife of girlfriend. Last week, as Barbour refused to reduce Dale Leo Bishop's death sentence for assisting in the murder of his friend Marcus Gentry, in 1989, Barbour stunned the city of Pascagoula by suspending the sentence of Michael David Graham, who murdered his ex-wife, Adrienne Klasky Granhan in 1989, after years of stalking and harassing her. Graham shot her at point blank range in the head with a 12-guage shotgun as she sait waiting for a light to change.
In the wake of the outcry over the Graham case, it came to light that Barbour had granted pardons for four other killers in recent weeks. At least two of those were also convicted of killing their former or current girlfriends.
Clarence Jones confessed to stabbing his former girlfriend, Carla M. Smith, 22, to death in 1992. In a disturbing coincidence, the number of times Jones stabbed her was 22 times, perforating her lungs. According to a July 22, 1992 report in the Vicksburg Evening Post, Jones waited for Smith in her apartment on New Year's Day, and killed her when she arrived with her New Year's Eve date.
Smith had twice filed assault charged against Jones, and she charged him with trespassing just two days prior to her murder. Warren County Circuit Judge Frank Voller sentenced Jones to life in prison for Smith's murder.
The Oct. 4, 1993, issue of the Vicksburg Evening Post stated that Paul Joseph "Jody" Warnock shot Carol Ann Hall, 18, once in the back of her head on Feb. 17th, 1989, as she slept in their shared bedroom. He was arrested that night and charged with aggravated assault, and then charged with murder after Hall died the next day.
A Geenwood jury found him guilty of murder on Oct. 7, 1993, and Vollor sentenced him to life in prison. His first trial ended in a hung jury, with a 11-1 vote.
Barbour pardoned both Jones and Wanock earlier this year. Then Governor, Ronnie Musgrove suspended Jones' sentence in 200-4. Warnock has been on parole since September 2006.
Barbour pardoned three other killers this month. One of them, Willie James Kimble, and his two accomplices robbed and murdered Luther Wilson Roberts in 1991; all three were charge with capital murder. A Leake County jury found him guilty of murder, and Kimble received life in pirson on May 12, 1992.
According to The Carthaginian of Thursday, May 14, 1992, Kimble confessed to luring Roberts who was elderly and retired, out of his home with a lie, telling him he had car trouble and needed a ride. When Roberts came out of his home, Deric Jones came up behind him and shot him in the head. Roberts and Jones then robbed him and divided the month with another accomplice who helped plan the crime, Daryl Windham.
Barbour also pardoned Bobb Hays Clark, convicted in Panola County of manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon in June 1999. Then, Governor Ronnie Murgrove suspended Harper's sentence in 2004. The Jackson Free Press is investigating the circumstances of their crimes.
Reached last week for comment on the suspension of Graham's sentence, Barbour spokesman Pete Smith would not coment to the Jackson Free Press, instead sending the following prepared statement via e-mail.
"Historically, Governors have reviewed cases like that of Michael Graham, whose conduct as a prisoner earnmed him the right to work as a trusty at the Governor's Mansion, where he has preformed well and proven to be a diligent workman. The Governor is giving him a change through an indefinite suspension of his sentence to start a new life away from Pascagoula and Jackson County, pending his future of good behavior; he will continue to be under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections throughout the period of this suspension of sentence as though he was on parole.
(source: Jackson Free Press)
The circumstances of Dale Leo Bishop's trial, the failure of defense cousel to mention, except in a footnote, that he suffers a bipolar disorder, the ongoing investigation into cases involving Robert Ryan, and myriad mitigating circumstances deserved a 'stay'.
Is it, perhaps, time to limit the powers of the Governor and allow, instead, the Parole Board to hear these cases?
The Jackson Free Press has learned that at least three of the six criminals getting relief from Gov. Haley Barbour killed their former or current wife of girlfriend. Last week, as Barbour refused to reduce Dale Leo Bishop's death sentence for assisting in the murder of his friend Marcus Gentry, in 1989, Barbour stunned the city of Pascagoula by suspending the sentence of Michael David Graham, who murdered his ex-wife, Adrienne Klasky Granhan in 1989, after years of stalking and harassing her. Graham shot her at point blank range in the head with a 12-guage shotgun as she sait waiting for a light to change.
In the wake of the outcry over the Graham case, it came to light that Barbour had granted pardons for four other killers in recent weeks. At least two of those were also convicted of killing their former or current girlfriends.
Clarence Jones confessed to stabbing his former girlfriend, Carla M. Smith, 22, to death in 1992. In a disturbing coincidence, the number of times Jones stabbed her was 22 times, perforating her lungs. According to a July 22, 1992 report in the Vicksburg Evening Post, Jones waited for Smith in her apartment on New Year's Day, and killed her when she arrived with her New Year's Eve date.
Smith had twice filed assault charged against Jones, and she charged him with trespassing just two days prior to her murder. Warren County Circuit Judge Frank Voller sentenced Jones to life in prison for Smith's murder.
The Oct. 4, 1993, issue of the Vicksburg Evening Post stated that Paul Joseph "Jody" Warnock shot Carol Ann Hall, 18, once in the back of her head on Feb. 17th, 1989, as she slept in their shared bedroom. He was arrested that night and charged with aggravated assault, and then charged with murder after Hall died the next day.
A Geenwood jury found him guilty of murder on Oct. 7, 1993, and Vollor sentenced him to life in prison. His first trial ended in a hung jury, with a 11-1 vote.
Barbour pardoned both Jones and Wanock earlier this year. Then Governor, Ronnie Musgrove suspended Jones' sentence in 200-4. Warnock has been on parole since September 2006.
Barbour pardoned three other killers this month. One of them, Willie James Kimble, and his two accomplices robbed and murdered Luther Wilson Roberts in 1991; all three were charge with capital murder. A Leake County jury found him guilty of murder, and Kimble received life in pirson on May 12, 1992.
According to The Carthaginian of Thursday, May 14, 1992, Kimble confessed to luring Roberts who was elderly and retired, out of his home with a lie, telling him he had car trouble and needed a ride. When Roberts came out of his home, Deric Jones came up behind him and shot him in the head. Roberts and Jones then robbed him and divided the month with another accomplice who helped plan the crime, Daryl Windham.
Barbour also pardoned Bobb Hays Clark, convicted in Panola County of manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon in June 1999. Then, Governor Ronnie Murgrove suspended Harper's sentence in 2004. The Jackson Free Press is investigating the circumstances of their crimes.
Reached last week for comment on the suspension of Graham's sentence, Barbour spokesman Pete Smith would not coment to the Jackson Free Press, instead sending the following prepared statement via e-mail.
"Historically, Governors have reviewed cases like that of Michael Graham, whose conduct as a prisoner earnmed him the right to work as a trusty at the Governor's Mansion, where he has preformed well and proven to be a diligent workman. The Governor is giving him a change through an indefinite suspension of his sentence to start a new life away from Pascagoula and Jackson County, pending his future of good behavior; he will continue to be under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections throughout the period of this suspension of sentence as though he was on parole.
(source: Jackson Free Press)
The circumstances of Dale Leo Bishop's trial, the failure of defense cousel to mention, except in a footnote, that he suffers a bipolar disorder, the ongoing investigation into cases involving Robert Ryan, and myriad mitigating circumstances deserved a 'stay'.
Is it, perhaps, time to limit the powers of the Governor and allow, instead, the Parole Board to hear these cases?
