Guest Column:

Death for murderers won't solve anything

By Sean Battles, Open Forum

Published March 2, 2004

This column is a response to the irresponsible and detached column concerning the death penalty by Jason Rosenbaum ("Focus on victims, not murderers," Feb. 3). First of all, the victim you mentioned is not just a nameless or faceless "St. Louis woman" or just another poor statistic to cite in a one-sided diatribe of legalese. Her name was Shirley Crook, a housewife and a sister. She lived 100 yards up the street from me. Christopher Simmons lived two houses down, next door to Charles Benjamin, the other minor involved in the murder. He was 15 years old.

Chris, Charlie, my brothers and I played basketball every day after school. We were all friends. But as our paths diverged, we grew apart. My brothers had college to consider, and I was beginning a new time in high school. Chris and Charlie, however, got mixed up in that proverbial "wrong crowd." They used drugs, and began to steal to buy those drugs. They killed a housewife, and made $7 doing so. Shirley Crook's sister will not forgive either of them. Who could blame her? She can never bring back her sister, yet those two monsters will breathe another day. Where is the fairness, the justice in that?

The question of putting Charlie to death arose briefly, but was soon dismissed considering his age. Also, as Charlie later firmly agreed, Chris was the one behind the murder. As Charlie said in a prison interview, he never wanted to kill that woman and had nothing to do with it, but was just along for the ride.

Charlie will be in prison for the remainder of his life. He is one and a half years older than me. But with a full beard and morose eyes, he has long since grown into a man.

Chris has found God, some say conveniently. He teaches the Bible to other prisoners. He regrets the path he took. He will never leave the walls of that prison. No one, maybe including himself, wants him to.

Speaking of the numbers, it is usually cheaper to house a prisoner for life after the costs of appeals, lawyers, etc. Speaking of death as a deterrent, it is not ' plain and simple. Insanity and hatred and despair do not lend formal consideration of any repercussions. Speaking of death as justice for the victim and the victim's family, it will not bring Shirley Crook, age 46 at the time of her murder, back into the arms of her husband and sister. Speaking from the Bible, instead of the Old Testament, take a look at the New. Keep in mind Chris and Charlie and their families and friends, and keep in mind Shirley Crook and her loved ones. Dead or alive, none of their memories will ever be forgotten for those who actually knew them.