In response to GregFL - Mr. Anon, can't come out of his cloak of anonymity, because he's a Woman. And further isn't that the point of anonymity!
I've read what you and others have posted about Jason Walton and read the transcript of the hearing and come to my own conclusions. After many years of working within the legal system, the Justices to me fortunately didn't seem to buy in the brain damage, damaged psyche or questionable intelligence routine that his lawyer put on the table. That's a typical criminal attorney routine in a capital case. How many times have the Justices heard that song and dance before, I'm sure too many to count. Or how about stating that Jason had inadequate counsel, isn't that a prerequisite in an appeal in a capital case? Just because Jason may have been in the Seed and been allegedly emotionally scarred or whatever by having been there, doesn't mitigate the fact that he was involved in a murder scheme, whether he was the shooter or not. And in typical laywer fashion, each lawyer is going to what he can to get his client off or to get a reduced sentence, turning one defendant against another, nothing new there, just the American Justice system hard at work. And what criminal has never said he wasn't at the scene of a crime or didn't commit the crime, none, they all allege innocence. If all the criminals are innocent, then why are there so many of them in jail? The Justices are correct, you cannot look back at a case and pick it apart with what you know now, but only with what was available then. Hindsight is always perfect, especially when you twist the facts to come to a new conclusion. Another great lawyer trick, make the outcome fit the circumstances. I feel great empathy for Jason's victims, I feel nothing for him. There is never an excusable excuse for murder, whatever the circumstances, regardless of his past. Jason made a choice to at the scene of a crime and to be involved with a crime, again, we all live by the consequences of our choices.
And I have read the articles written about the Seed by the St. Pete Times, I was born and raised there. That newspaper has always tended to be a little on the pink side and hasn't always published all the facts or truth, but their version of the facts or truth, but then again isn't that what liberal newspapers do?
In response to Debi, I don't look back at my past filled with angst over what might or might not have been, had I not been in the Seed. I wouldn't have become the adult I am now, because all aspects of my past, good, bad and indifferent and my time in the Seed as well, have helped shape me into the woman I am now. Most importantly to me, I would not have married the man I did and been married to him for 25 years and I would not have had my sons. Sure I could have hooked up with some other man and possibly have had some children, but I wouldn't have had the sons that I had. Sure I could have had a different life path, but again, I wouldn't have my husband or my sons. To wish a change in my past, would negate my present, something I'm not willing to do. My time in the Seed is a blip on what has become my radar screen of life.
As for Antigen, thank God we live in America where we are all free to believe and think as we want. Wouldn't it be a shame if we all had the same political leanings and thought processes. But for the grace of God go all of us!