NV: Castillo's choice should be honored Monday
Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:23PM
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Castillo's choice should be honored Monday

the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board
October 14, 2007, 4:01 AM

On Monday at 8:30 p.m., William Castillo - if he chooses - will die
as punishment for murdering a Clark County woman 10 years ago.

If he decides there is merit in arguments that lethal injection is
cruel and unusual punishment, he can choose to call off the execution
and proceed with the seemingly endless number of appeals that would
keep him alive for several more years.

That's a lot of choices for a person who gave Isabelle Berndt none.
Is there any chance her death by tire iron was kind and painless?

Anti-death penalty groups are off base on this one. Is it really
"unconscionable" to proceed with the execution that Castillo has
asked for?

Does it really violate a right to life? Nevada law says if you commit
certain crimes, you no longer have that right.

The measures the state is taking should address any concerns that
Castillo is being executed against his will. He will be able to call
off the execution until 20 minutes before it begins. They're even
doubling the dose of the three drugs used in the execution in
response to concerns that he will suffer.

The Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of lethal
injection will be important ... if there is truly a method that is
not cruel and unusual it should be in use in every state that allows
the death penalty.

But in this case, Castillo has decided that is irrelevant. He wants
to die. All the legal muscle being brought to bear to prevent that
would be better spent helping victims of people like Castillo.

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/200 ... /110140171