While the world spoke out in a global protest against the inevitable execution of Troy Davis, there was another execution happening in Texas that didn’t generate as much attention, but many believed was justice in effect. White supremacist Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed at 6pm Wednesday night for the 1998 murder of a black man, 49-year-old James Byrd Jr., one of the most horrific hate crimes documented in our generation.
Lawrence and two of his friends offered James a ride while he was walking down a deserted country road. James was not only beaten unconscious, but was urinated upon and then tied to their car by his ankles. The men drove three miles with him chained to the vehicle, and it’s speculated that James was alive for most of the ordeal. It wasn’t until his arm and head were ripped from his body that forensic evidence shows he died. The three killers then dumped James’ remains in a cemetery and went to a barbeque.
In an interview from death row, Brewer told KFDM that he participated in the assault on Mr Byrd but had ‘nothing to do with the killing as far as dragging him or driving the truck or anything’.
He told the station his execution would be a ‘good out’ and he’s ‘glad it’s about to come to an end’.
Mr Byrd’s death led to the ‘Federal October 22, 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act’, commonly known as the ‘Matthew Shepard Act’.
For their participation in the murder, 36-year-old John William King sits on death row while his case remains under appeal, while 36-year-old Shawn Berry received life in prison.
Meanwhile, James Byrd Jr.’s son did not want his father’s murderers to be executed:
You can’t fight murder with murder. Life in prison would have been fine. I know he can’t hurt my daddy anymore. I wish the state would take in mind that this isn’t what we want.
Via necolebitchie
