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On Behalf Of Glenn Benner The
below letter has been written by Staughton and Alice Lynd on behalf
of Ohio death-row inmate, Glenn Benner. Benner is scheduled to be
executed on Feb. 7. Date:
Wed, 1 Feb 2006 22:48:02 EST The
Clemency Report of the Adult Parole Authority concerning Glenn L.
Benner stated under Community Attitude, there were numerous heartfelt
letters received from the victim's survivors, several letters by
citizens who support the execution of Mr. Benner, and "one
letter received from Attorneys Staughton and Alice Lynd that requested
clemency for Mr. Benner and asked that his Here is the text of the letter from the Lynds to each member of the Parole Board. We write in support of clemency for Glenn Benner, and urge you to consider his record in the many years since he was convicted and sentenced to death. Mr. Benner has not asked to write to you, nor does he know that we are doing so. We are expressing our own personal views. We have read the letter Glenn Benner sent to you regarding his decision not to participate in a clemency hearing. We also read the Associated Press dispatch (1/4/06) quoting Governor Taft saying that "the inmate's conduct while in prison and the extent of remorse for the crime" should be considered. We believe that Governor Taft's statement is consistent with the provision of ORC ' 2967.03, authorizing the parole authority to look into the offender's conduct while confined in state correctional institutions, and his mental and moral qualities and characteristics. We think Mr. Benner's position is based on his observation that the Parole Board has heretofore not found such considerations sufficient to recommend clemency. We met Mr. Benner when he was in the "extended privilege" (honor) block on Death Row at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. When we visited him there, he was able to mingle freely with other prisoners and staff in his block and to meet with us wearing no restraints. He is now in the comparable housing area at the Ohio State Penitentiary. His most recent supervision review form, done in 1997 before his placement in the extended privilege block, is consistent with our understanding that Mr. Benner has not been disciplined in nineteen years of incarceration on Death Row. He told us, he had matured. Mr.
Benner has demonstrated remorse as is shown in his letter to you.
He is not claiming innocence. He is not trying to excuse what he
did by saying he was on drugs. More significantly, he recognizes
that his participation in a clemency hearing would add further stress
to those already suffering because of his actions, and he does not
want to add to the pain of the survivors of his victims. He is asking
supporters to include the Bowser and Sedgwick families in If
Mr. Benner were permitted to live, there is no reason to believe
that he would be a threat to anyone. Mr. Benner has redeemed himself.
Such behavior should be rewarded rather than discouraged. Execution,
like aggravated murder, is purposefully causing the death of another.
Clemency offers you as public officials, and ourselves as citizens
in whose name you act, the opportunity to affirm life rather than
death. Staughton
and Alice Lynd |
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