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CHESTER D. TURNER is no stranger to murder or the punishment that comes with it.
He squeezed the life out of more than a dozen women during a decade of terror, and two juries decided he should die for his crimes.
So it was merely a formality yesterday that Turner, already on death row for 10 murders, was given four more death sentences for what a prosecutor called the city’s most prolific serial killing.
Turner, 47, looked straight at Judge Robert Perry as he handed down the penalty for the string of inner-city killings during the crack cocaine epidemic.
As Turner was led from court, he cursed at the prosecution and said, “I’ll be back.”
Turner is one of at least three men blamed for a series of killings once thought to be the work of a solo killer dubbed the “Southside Slayer.”
More than 100 women in South Los Angeles were killed during the violent era when highly addictive crack made people desperate enough to turn to prostitution to support their habit or led to other crimes.
Turner was convicted of 14 of those slayings, plus the killing of a pregnant victim’s foetus, from 1987 and 1998, making him the city’s most prolific killer, prosecutor Robert Grace said.
Family members of the victims were relieved the case was closed. They joked and laughed as they rode the courthouse elevator with prosecutors after the brief hearing.
“It’s judgment day,” said Gwendolyn Cameron, whose sister Cynthia Johnson was a victim in the most recent case. “He got what he had coming. The sooner they execute him, the better we’ll all be. He’s a menace to society.”
Turner was serving time for rape when genetic evidence connected him to 10 killings in South Los Angeles. The victims had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Their bodies were dumped in alleys, a burned-out garage and a portable toilet.
Most of the women were believed to have worked as prostitutes, some were crack users and some were just snatched off the streets.
A grainy surveillance tape played at his first trial showed the 6’3″, 260-pound Turner in the act of killing Paula Vance, whose body was found at a vacant office building in February 1998.
Turner was convicted and sentenced in 2007 to death in those 10 cases, plus an additional term of 15 years-to-life for the death of the viable foetus.
Evidence emerged later that linked him to the killings of Elandra Bunn, 33, in June 1987; Deborah Williams, 28, in November 1992; Mary Edwards, 42, in December 1992; and Cynthia Annette Johnson, 30, in February 1997. All were choked to death, mostly by hand.
Another man, David Allen Jones, served 11 years for three of those killings.
Jones, a former janitor with the mental capacity of an 8-year-old, was freed after DNA evidence pointed to Turner and prosecutors determined Jones’ confessions were coerced by police.
Defence lawyers acknowledged that Turner had sex with women in exchange for drugs, but they argued he wasn’t a killer.
“He denies to this day that he killed anybody,” defence lawyer Kieran Patrick Brown said.
After the death sentences were delivered Friday, Turner asked the judge why prosecutors had insisted on capital punishment after they once offered him the chance of life in prison without parole for the four murders. The judge didn’t answer.
Outside court, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman explained that prosecutors had offered the plea deal before trial, but Turner rejected it.
“He’s never taken responsibility for any of these crimes. So what are we going to do, give him four freebies? Those are four lives,” Silverman said. “He’s a remorseless animal.”
Whether Turner is ever executed is another question.
There are 745 inmates on death row at San Quentin State Prison. More than 160 have been sentenced to die since executions were put on hold in 2006 because of court challenges over the lethal injection method.
Turner has been sentenced to die twice since then.
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How is this guy suitable to be President of this great Country ????
@Tony Hartigan: He has isn’t.
@Tony Hartigan:
He isn’t.
@Tony Hartigan: People looked at the candidates, weighed them up and chose President Trump. That is how he became president of the USA and will get a second term. People will have a chance to vote him out in a few years if they so wish.
@Avina Laaf:
Although he does have a point that many far-left ‘anti-fascists’ seem to have no problem engaging in violence themselves.
@Tony Hartigan:
Is he not right in saying that there is blame on both sides and that the US would be better if they repatriated jobs?
@Avina Laaf: Agreed.
@Tony Hartigan: because he won the election,and when did it become a great country.
@Danny foley: “will get a second term” — it’s bye bye to second term
@Danny foley: Second term? Good one, he needs to worry about finishing his first term before he can even contemplate that now….
@Avina Laaf:
The ‘anti-fascists’ in the 1930s and 40s engaged in violence too. Surely you are not suggesting some moral equivalence between the aims and objectives of the Axis powers with those of the Allies?
@Francis Mc Carthy: maybe so. But like all US elections there is a small number of swing states. The south would elect any gobdaw red and the NE any gobdaw blue. Florida, NC. Iowa and Winscionin I think changed colour last time. It’s a fine line between winning and losing with their electoral college system
@Francis Mc Carthy: the way things are going, he’ll definitely get a second term. Who’s going to run against him?
@Dave Murray: If he gets people working he will get elected and that is his plan, that is his job.
@Nick Allen:
Careful now Nick. That comment is a bit too sensible
@lavbeer: There was just 70,000 + votes that got this dangerous conman into power..If the people get off their (I) in some of those states that you mentioned -then hopefully the likes of Trump will never get power ever again..And, you must also remember that millions of people voted for him because of ‘healthcare..how will he be able to debate that one…cannot blame democrats for that one…
@Danny foley: His job is to run the country,not ruin it
@David Hennigan: Can you see the Republican party backing Trump in 2020 ? As to who will run against him> good question.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: The Western “Anti Fascists” of the late 30′s and 40′s were for Democracy, Capitalism and Freedoms. The co called Western Antifa movement of this decade are Anarchists, Communists and Racists in their own right. They oppose Democratic values, the oppose capitalism, they oppose Freedoms of anyone that disagrees with them, very much like their Stalinst brethren all those years ago. So in reality they are nothing like those that Fought and Died for Democracy in the Second World War.
@Tony Hartigan: He has a point there were two sets of extremists there set to cause trouble.
@Avina Laaf: No, he does not have a point defending nazis and white supremacists. End of.
@Nick Allen: No, he is not right saying blame is on both sides. One side are nazis and white supremacists. The other side isn’t.
@Nick Allen: And no, racism and bigotry is not solved through job creation.
@Nam Oosh: Yes, Nazis and white supremacists were there to cause problems, those were the two sets of extremists.
@Pat Troy:
Winning the election entitles him to become President, but it doesn’t make him a suitable person to hold the position.
@sean o’dhubhghaill:
Did you ever see the ‘choc-ice kid’ scene in “The Van”?
@Nick Allen:The left have been resorting to violence for a long time now. Not every one at that protest was far right or far left. If you look at more than one of the videos you will see the left arrived before violence began with helmets, baseball bats, iron bars, face masks to a protest. They need to be called out by the press and media. Im certain only a small percentage of both sides were extremists but I guarantee you that the percentage was higher on the left. Both groups do have to accept blame. It is just horrible that someone had to die for something so trivial. This has been brewing for a long time now as the left have been allowed to get away with it for so long now. It is unfortunately but inevitable that this counter violence will happen and it will only get worse.
@Francis Mc Carthy: agree with that. He won’t get the nomination next time out as by that time he will have left a trail of damage from his approach.
@Dog Eat Fog:
So in the world according to you, white supremacist violence = bad (can’t really disagree with you on that) but so-called ‘anti-fascist’ violence = good??
@Avina Laaf:
In my view it was just two different groups of thugs, albeit there for very different reasons. Then again maybe their reasons weren’t that different – using violence to impose their views on others.
@Avina Laaf: There is no comparison. One is evil. The other protests evil. Without evil, the other would not exist.
So your question is incorrect, but in simple terms – racism and bigotry has no place in any society. In my view.
@Nam Oosh: are you saying anyone who has the guts to stand up for HUMAN RIGHTS are extremist ?
@Dog Eat Fog:
You’re completely missing the point. I totally agree that racism and bigotry have no place in society, but far-left extremists who are willing to use violence to impose their views are also bigots.
@Avina Laaf: like it did nixon, Kennedy, both daddy and junior bush,Clinton Obama regan .Trump is far ahead of these war mongering clowns.
@Tony Hartigan: The man is unhinged…any other leader would have been condemning these extremists within an hour…took Donald 2 days.
@Avina Laaf: Are you suggesting that I’m missing the point when Trump is defending Nazis and white supremacists? Or when he’s equaling them to groups protesting the Nazis? Or am I missing the point when you claim he has a point in doing so? Or is it perhaps the fact that I don’t accept any argument from anyone trying to equal Nazis to any group protesting them?
@Tony Hartigan:
All the same hes probably done a great service to Irish industry.
Most of what he tries to do is reversed ,people end up doing the opposite .
I toatal Bufoon !
@Dog Eat Fog:
You keep referring to people ‘protesting’ against white supremacist bigots. I have absolutely no problem with peaceful protest – I’d quite happily protest against them myself.
I have a huge problem with anyone who takes it on themselves to violently attack white supremacist bigots because they disagree with their views though.
You clearly see this use of violence as perfectly acceptable – that’s where we differ.
@Dog Eat Fog: The other side are a bunch of thugs who use violence as a means & think that they are justified in doing so.
@Tony Hartigan: A country that has spent over 90% of its existence in war is a ‘great country’?
@Paul O Mahony: You can skip right to the end of the video,where you will see the s(um of the earth (Chris Cantwell),putting away his arsenal of weapons.
@West Cork Lad: “the fact that nobody on our side died i call that points for us”- Chris Cantwell
@West Cork Lad: what an absolute s(umbag. Brings two assault rifles and three handguns and brags about the death toll
@Dog Eat Fog: Think you’re absolutely missing the point here. I’m not one to defend Trump, but he categorically stated that Nazis and white nationalists are to be condemned, so you are completely wrong when you state he defended them. He did not. That’s the kind of talk that gives credence to all his talk about fake news.
He also was right to condemn the violence from both sides – left AND right. I’m all for peaceful, dignified protest, but the left seems to have been taken over by anarchists that believe violence against groups they don’t agree with is perfectly acceptable. It IS NOT acceptable, under any circumstance, to attack someone for expressing views, no matter how disgusting those views are.
Maybe a more prudent question is “how is this guy still the President?”
@Dave O Keeffe: These are the kind of people that organised those protests in Charlottesville..
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/christopher-cantwell
@West Cork Lad: he is one individual.
@Paul O Mahony: he is a leader of Luke minded people, they were chanting “heil Cantwell” in the video.
@Francis Mc Carthy: kind of hard for him to run the country when there’s constant moaning from the ones who did not vote for him.
@Philip Brady: Republicans didn’t vote for him?
There is no disputing that there was violence on both sides anyone who says different is politicising this tragedy to suit an agenda.
@Chris M.: One side were nazis and white supremacists promoting racism and bigotry. The other side protested. Evil vs. Good. Very simple
@Dog Eat Fog: violent Marxist AntiFa are every bit as evil as violent neo-nazis.
@Chris M.: While quite concerning, it’s interesting to see someone in 2017 equaling Nazis to any other group of people. Well done to you, sir.
Second, “violent Marxist anti fascists”, well done again, defending your Nazis and white supremacists.
@Dog Eat Fog: The Antifa movement in the US are self-described Anarchists. And as such are the mirror image of Facists.
And many of their Black members are avowed racists and bigots. They hate both Whites and Asians.
The Antifa movement are just as hate filled as their White Nationalist counterparts. They despise anyone that disagrees with them and are more than willing to resort to violence to shut down any debate (no matter how civil) that they oppose.
So there is no Good v Evil. There is Vile and Nasty v Vile and Nasty.
@Mick Jordan: And another one who wants to equal Nazis to groups opposing them. Well done. Congrats.
@Dog Eat Fog: You’re all through this thread, putting words in other commentators’ mouths, bleating on about “Good vs. Evil”; you’re either purposely and willfully missing the point or else you are just really stupid.
Nobody suggested the two groups were the same. Their reasons for protest are obviously very different; it is their modus operandi that are the same. Given this fact (and it is a fact), it is quite reasonable to suggest that there is blame on both sides for that violence that occurred..
@Daffy the Bear: If you say that blame is on both sides, then you are implicitly validating the Nazis and the white supremacists, and as such equaling them, or bringing them closer, to their opposition.
This is in my view unacceptable.
There is no comparison. And sure, you’re welcome to call me what you want, I seriously couldn’t care less – humanising, validating, accepting Nazis and white supremacists is so far off the charts, it’s both remarkable and concerning to see anyone making the attempt, regardless of the typical trolling here in the Journal.
But hey, good luck with that.
@Chris M.: Another collaborator emboldened by Orange Hitler.
@Dog Eat Fog: How do you not understand that it is possible to abhor vile white nationalists & also oppose far left Antifa who are comprised of Anarchists & Communists who just like neo nazis also oppose liberal democracy?
@Dog Eat Fog: I fully support liberals, moderate conservatives and the democratic left who oppose neo nazis but I oppose Antifa as they are violent, attack people’s property and just like the neo nazis are enemies of liberal democracy.
@Dog Eat Fog: By your logic Stalin was a grand chap despite the millions he killed in gulags and purges solely because he opposed the far right nutter Hitler.
@Dog Eat Fog: I take it by your answer that you are a supporter of Anarchist violence. So as such are no better than any member of the KKK yourself. You accuse anyone that calls you out on your statements as being somehow in favour of White Nationalism and Racisim, in a a classic attempt to silence them. If this was a physical open meeting, debating this issue I have no doubt you would resort to violence to stop any criticism of the Antifa movement. But personally I am more amused than annoyed at your attempt to imply that I am a “White Racist”. If I am, I must be a very unusual one.
@Dog Eat Fog: VIOLENTLY protested. Which should be rightly condemned. Very simple also
@Dog Eat Fog: “If you say that blame is on both sides, then you are implicitly validating the Nazis and the white supremacists”
What a lazy argument, and a clear case of playing the man. Not once have I seen one person here saying that Nazis and white supremacists are correct. Racism and bigotry is unacceptable, and that goes for both sides. These two groups, on this particular day, in this particular case, are two sides of the same bigoted, violent, abhorrent coin, contributing absolutely nothing to society but anger, fear and death.
@Dog Eat Fog: again with putting words in people’s mouths. I did not validate Nazis or white supremcists or equal them to their opposition; you’ve just missed the point again. If anything, by pointing out the congruency of the attitudes and bahaviours of the left and right extremists, my comment suggests my intention was to invalidate the violent approach to protest on both sides. Your or my personal view of white supremacists or anti-fascists is irrelevant to this argument; this is called objectivity..
@Dog Eat Fog: This video is of Antifa turning on other protesters for not helping them riot.
@AR Devine @Mick Jordan @Alan Roddy @Daffy the Bear -
Gents,
You have in quite convincing manners demonstrated that you are either completely ignorant as to what took place in Charlottesville and Trump’s subsequent responses, or that you simply don’t comprehend what took place, alternatively that you just enjoy trolling on the Journal.
It’s been somewhat entertaining to read, while your arguments are truly concerning if they are indeed a reflection of your genuine opinions.
I’ll give you a collective, final response.
The quasi comparison between KKK/Nazis/White Supremacists and their protesters is not only ill-informed but dangerous.
MLB, Antifa and other anti-hate groups exist only as a response to racism, fascism, discrimination and bigotry in our society, while not as well organised as the hate groups and far more decentralised with fewer followers.
If there were no hate groups, no discrimination, fascism, racism, bigotry, in our society, then these anti-hate groups would not exist.
The blame “logic” you present, while written with quite the illusion of authoritative intent, is absolute rubbish. Dumbing it down to your chosen level, it’s the equivalent of saying that the (former) Soviet Union and the Western Allies were equally to blame for WWII, next to the Nazi regime under Hitler.
KKK, Nazis and White Supremacists are organised hate groups. They live for racism, discrimination and bigotry. There are no good eggs in there. It’s all evil, and should be rejected and denounced, without reservation. There is no comparison.
In Charlottesville, the Nazis and their kin came, organised and fully prepared for fight. Among the protesters you had MLB and Antifa, with a large mix of centrist and left leaning regular people simply opposing hate. It ended as one would expect when hate groups descend on towns, while with deadly outcome.
I personally find it genuinely concerning that there was nothing in your own minds that stopped you before you held both Nazis and protesters at fault for what happened in Charlottesville, and the death of Heather Heyer. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s education, maybe it’s that you’re drawn towards the White Supremacist agenda. I don’t know, I don’t care, it’s just concerning and equally disturbing.
That said, to each their own.
Have a great day.
By no means am I a fan of Trump but I watched the press conference and he didn’t actually say too much wrong for once.
@Paul O’b: Considering he was meant to calm the unrest about his earlier comments he said everything wrong. His attitude was appalling after his obvious rehearsed speech condemning the KKK he showed his true colours again.
He has become paranoid and more aggressive as time goes on.
@Paul O’b:
People see an article about Trump and comment with their opinion of Trump rather than actually reading the article and trying to consider what is been written about
@Paul O’b: nothing he said was untrue, people are just pissed that he said it, especially the media who hate anyone who deviates from their preferred and coordinated narrative.
@Paul O’b: I watched the violence live as it happened, it appeared to have two sides involved and American commentators were of that belief. At the time they also raised another valid point that America can’t just erase its past. Trump echoed that view in his conference yesterday.
@Kal Ipers: I completely agree with you. He is an aggressive twisted ego maniac but he spoke responsibly truthfully. He condemned neo nazies/white supremacists and said there was wrong on both sides………what else was he suppose to say?
@Nick Allen: Or people are commenting on the complete insanity coming out of Trump’s mouth.
@Paul O’b: too confrontational for the press to handle though?
@Paul O’b: Which part was not “too much wrong” in your opinion? Him defending the Nazis and white supremacists, and equaling them to any other arbitrary group of people? Or perhaps the George Washington comment? Or… maybe how he’s gong to solve racism through job creation? Which part exactly wasn’t “too much wrong”?
@Kal Ipers: See, I don’t get this. When he speaks off the cuff, he’s criticised for being a loose cannon. When he’s on-script, he’s criticised for being obviously rehearsed. Pick one, or admit that any stick to beat him will do.
I get that he’s cringe-makingly inarticulate, but is that actually the problem? Last guy was lauded as the second coming of Cicero, and that didn’t exactly resolve tensions, did it?
@Paul O’b: I assume you mean “reasonably” truthful. It was neither reasonable nor responsible to talk in the manner he did. He basically got into a telling match. The “truth” of what he was saying is very questionable as the whole thing was an aggravated situation caused by the neo-nazis.
@Ben McArthur: The issue is when he is on script he is obviously lying and has been corrected and warned what to say. He then destroys this by showing what he really thinks and has a yelling match with the media while insulting them. The problem us he can’t stay consistent and on point. He appears unstable as a result
@Dog Eat Fog:
1. He didn’t defend Nazis, and white supremacists. In fact he categorically condemned them.
2. What was wrong with the George Washington comment? Did he lie when he said that George Washington was a slave owner?
So far right (just like his father) he is starting to make his party look like they are on the left
Trump biggest mistake was attacking the media from the start. He now has huge difficulties communicating any message without been battered by the press. Trump language isn’t that of a politician either which leaves him wide open to be interpreted incorrectly .
Good, When does he start taking his gawdy, tacky hotels plastered all over the world “back home”? I’d love to get the chance to ask him that.
@Danny foley: A second term? Ha ha good one.
@Dave Murray: He got a lovely welcome home from protesters outside his Trump Tower on Monday night ..
@Dave Murray: More likely than you’d think. What we hear here is heavily biased towards those in major population centres such as New York and LA. In reality, there are about 6-8 states that the next election will come down to. Clinton ignored their concerns and pushed her general agenda, Trump told them what they wanted to hear.
It doesn’t matter how many bleeding hearts in Silicon Valley or Hollywood tweet about how much they hate Trump, if he delivers on his promises to the people of Wisconsin, Iowa, etc. he stands a very strong chance of winning in 2020.
The beginning of the end.
In a country with well over 300 million ,why does a lone nutter get so much press ,i lived in the states and yes there is racism ,just like every other part of the world if you want to look for it ,this has been blown out of all proportion .robert e lee statue should stand ,one cant change or want to change the true history of any nation ,we cant go pandering to every minority grouping .dialogue and civic responsibility yes .Trump is a businessman not a politician ,yet the American people elected him .some how the american media has started to set the narrative for trumps presidency ,but that is all his own fault .i dont believe he will serve the full term .
@Anthony Gallagher: I have to wonder if those people who want him gone so badly even realize who Pence is. Trump is far more desirable, even with all his flaws. Pence is an actual hardcore right winger. And I don’t believe many people understand this. If Trump does get impeached, or god forbid assassinated, then President Pence will be not be any better. He will probably be the most hardcore, religious, ultra conservative president the USA has seen in decades.
@:-): IN GOD WE TRUST
And how exactly is bringing more jobs to America meant to stop racism?
@Sorcha Hendry: Fair question, but the idea is that extremism is usually a response to economic factors. There’s solid historical backing for this, whether it’s Nazism, Communism or Jacobinism.
PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE THE F_CK UP , AND STOP THIS BASTA_D BEFORE ITS TOO LATE
@Damien Wallanger: i cannot shout loud enough
@IRISH OPINION: ok who should replace him? And what was wrong with what he said?
“Steve Bannon is not a racist”
I didn’t know Donald was a comedian.
Bitter bitter bitter get over him .he speaks the truth .
@Tadhg O’shaughnessy: Collaborator.
Would someone point out too this IGNORAMUS that Irish firms employ in access of 200000 yes 2 hundred thousand people in the USA.
#notaracist just like father ted
The US need to amend their right to free speech to exclude incitement of hatred or hate speech.
Ironically their supreme court has protected the right to gather for these marches, thanks a lot Malcolm X.
Take a look at @stillgray’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/896425884315295745?s=09
That winery needs a name change!
It really does get worse and worse! Does anyone out there remember Spitting Image from the 80′s? “The President’s brain is missing” sketches? Life imitating art. I rest my case !
Trumps reasoning is like saying that the allies who stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944 were violent protesters. Stupid…
@Peter Higgins: No, it’s nothing like that at all…
One Bad Dude…We Should Open A Golf Club For Him In Co Clare.
He called out the right numberous times before stating that there was violence coming fromthe left from the likes of antifa. This article is simply bullshit
Mr. Trump (you don’t deserve the title ‘Mr. President’). You are a bigoted ignoramus.
His slowly losing the plot
have your say