Inmate Kills Cellmate "Because He Deserved It"

[tropicsgoddess]

I figured with this particular topic it would be more suitable here than on CS.com.

Jailhouse brand of vigilante justice:

Linky!

The inmate kills his cellmate, a convicted child rapist. Personally, I'm okay with that to be honest. People that prey on innocent children like that make me sick to my stomach.

[Savannah]

I'm not okay with it. Sexual offenders are horrible people, yes, but that does not automatically deny them their rights, such as a right to trial by jury. Right now, we've got a single man who is serving a life sentence --- we don't know what for --- who has decided that he can determine whether another human being deserves to live or die. And you don't see ANYTHING wrong with that?

Wrongful convictions do happen. I'm not saying that's what happened here, but would you be okay with an innocent being murdered because someone thought he was a child molester? I'm betting not. How do you know, for sure, that's not the case here?

Finally:

But a fellow inmate said Silva’s attack on Bell was racially motivated, and he’s threatened to kill again.

You would be okay with a racially motivated murder by a violent man because the victim happens to be a child molester? Again, I'm not saying that's what happened here. But, again, I'm going to ask how you KNOW that's not the case?

[Anthony K. S.]

a single man who is serving a life sentence --- we don't know what for

Armed robbery, armed carjacking-kidnapping, and other crimes as well.

"Inmate: Cellmate 'needed to be killed'"


Prosecutors have stated that, in his confession letters, Silva claimed that he killed his cellmate as "a message to prison officials," and that he'd continue killing until they give back everything that they supposedly took from the inmates - packages, weights, hobby crafts, paying jobs, food.

Silva has also been accused of having ties to a white supremacist group, and that he might have killed Bell because he was black.

Simply put . . . I am not buying Silva's claim that he killed his cellmate because of a belief system that condemns pedophiles.

At least, not until more information comes out about this story.


I don't know if Silva deserves to be given the death penalty for killing Bell. That's not a judgment I am prepared to make.

But the idea that Silva should be rewarded for this, by having his sentence reduced (as some people are suggesting), by being given a medal, or even simply by being given verbal praise . . . That's just disturbing.

This man is a murderer. Whether or not he should be executed for what he did, I certainly don't believe that he should be rewarded.

I've got an idea . . . Why don't we go talk to the man whose apartment Silva broke into, and who Silva kidnapped at knifepoint, forced to drive to an ATM and withdraw money, and then stole his car . . . and ask him if he thinks Silva deserves to have his sentence reduced because he killed his cellmate in prison?

[Vagabond]

Inmates killing inmates?
I see it as a bit of a solution. Not a good one, granted, but something for which I have no feelings for. I do believe that some people should not be allowed to continue their actions - child molesters, rapists, serial killers, etc. And if the criminals decide to eliminate other criminals, well... I give neither praise nor condemnation.
Like with Jeffrey Dahmer. He should not have been allowed to continue his actions. Other criminals decided eliminate him. I give neither praise nor condemnation for their actions.
Although, I am silently thankful that there's at least 1 less person in the world that would commit that kind of behaviour.

[Greenday]

I can understand the urge. I really do. I'm not affected by rape at all and even I think the world would be better off without these scumbags. But we just can't let people commit street justice. It will only continue to get overboard and lead into chaos.

[Vagabond]

I don't think inmates go overboad and and lead the jails into chaos. I am lead to believe (and I could be highly mis-informed) that they only do it in certain cases... like child molesters, people like Dahmer.
Granted jail killings may happen more often than is reported, but, I don't know how many happen out of the "He needed killin'"* excuse.

But, like I said, I could be mis-informed.

*Texas may or may not have more liberal definitions of this phrase. (trying to be funny about a serious subject. )

[AdminAssistant]

Not to mention that in-jail murders are also a way to be initiated into a gang.

We are not a vigalante society. The law provides rules and protections for all of us, including child molesters.

[Savannah]

Vagabond, please see my comment about wrongful convictions. We know that not everyone in jail is guilty. If we allow inmates to kill each other, we at some point condone the murder of an innocent. Are you really okay with that?

[Rageaholic]

Like he was any better than him? No, that's not cool. As much as I detest child rapists, I also detest people like Silva.

However, I don't think Silva should get the death penalty, just like the one he killed shouldn't have.

[Vagabond]

Correct, not everyone in jail is guilty. Not everyone in jail gets killed either.
The inmate, Terry Bell, who's handprint and DNA was found at the scene of the crime. Sounds mighty incriminating to me. Of course, I don't have all the facts.
Again, I neither condone nor condemn Silva. He is serving a life sentence, and I believe that he should stay in jail. Possibly have another life sentence added on to his current sentence.
Killings in jails happen, but they are not that frequent that I'm aware of. Guards and wardens discourage that behaviour so it does not become rampant. I agree with that.
However, if the lowest of the low Criminals come to the conclusion that there are some criminals too low for even them and they eliminate that one. I, again, neither condone nor condemn that action. I am silently thankful that there isn't a Jeffrey Dahmer walking around somewhere, or a child molester somewhere, but I will not praise the criminals for their actions. The guards and wardens do their best to discourage that behaviour, just as society tries to discourage going to jail - but it happens. It is not a 100% solution or fix, but it tries.
As a small side benefit - one less person the government has to shell out money to feed and clothe.

[AdminAssistant]

As a small side benefit - one less person the government has to shell out money to feed and clothe.

No, the government just has to pay for the trial of this murder, including a lawyer for the defendant. Why is there a monetary value assigned at all? You can't put a price tag on a life, I don't care how scummy a person is.

[Nyoibo]

Why is there a monetary value assigned at all? You can't put a price tag on a life, I don't care how scummy a person is.

You can really, Governments and businesses to it almost daily.

[Greenday]

I don't think inmates go overboad and and lead the jails into chaos.

I'm not saying one case will do it, but I'm saying if society ever started to approve of this kind of thing, it'd become more common and would eventually move out of prisons and onto the streets, which would turn into chaos.

[Nyoibo]

I used that same snowballing arguement in an essay about why me not doing my homework would lead to the downfall of humanity.

[protege]

Although, I am silently thankful that there's at least 1 less person in the world that would commit that kind of behaviour.

That's how I see it. Think about it, what happens when the rapist got out of prison? Is he really someone you want living in your neighborhood? What if he does it again? As to Silva himself, there's not really much more the system can do to him. Well, other than solitary confinement. He's already serving a life sentence, and probably felt that he had "nothing to lose."