VALLE EXECUTED BY STATE WEDNESDAY. Strapped on to the gurney in the death chamber (how does that phrase ring on the ears of a civilized society?) Valle had no last words.
33 years later "justice" has been carried out for the killer of Officer Louis Pena.
The State Of Florida is about a day away from killing Manuel Valle in retribution for Valle killing Coral Gables Police Office Louis Pena in 1978.
Wednesday September 28, 2011 at 4:00 PM is the date and time of execution. Valle was sent to death row when he was 28. He is now 61. Valle has been on death row for 33 years. A diet of high fat, smoking and no exercise would have accomplished the same thing a few years ago that the State will do Wednesday.
The latest round of litigation in Valle's case is whether the current combination of drugs will kill Valle in a humane manner.
Are you kidding me? Stuff a person in a 8 x 12 room for 3 decades and then worry about whether the manner of death is humane? Something is very very wrong.
This is not and should not be interpreted as minimizing the nature of Valle's crime. A police officer sworn to protect the public gave his life and the penalty for his murder should be severe. He had a daughter who lost her father. The man who killed him deserves to suffer. He possibly even deserves to die. But what ever side of the fence you are on in the death penalty debate, this case is outrageous and would be ridiculous if the events weren't so tragic for Officer Pena and his family.
Murder case dropped: Detective dates defendant's wife, forges Defendant's signature on Miranda form, state drops case. Kudos to Defense Attorney Andy Rier. The Captain had the Herald story in the comments section earlier. You can check it out here.