So, I got offered a chance to see someone get killed....

[Venom160]

 

[Phaedrus45]

Would I do it? No way. It will be an image you have for the rest of your life. I hear from people who have looked at some of the violent images that have been so easy to find on the internet, like the beheading of that one guy in Iraq, and they wish they'd never opened that file.

My question for you would be what do you truly gain by seeing such a thing? Also, to view anyone's death, even someone who has commited vile acts, as "a damn good news story" is almost just a sickening. For me, a damn good news story is to not sensationalize this man in any way.

 

[Venom160]

edit. nvm.

 

[Snapper_Carr]

Hell...I can show you that. Come stand by this mirror.

Seriously, it's not cool like the movies. Trust me.

 

[Byrd Man]

Also, to view anyone's death, even someone who has commited vile acts, as "a damn good news story" is almost just a sickening. For me, a damn good news story is to not sensationalize this man in any way.

I think intervieiwing the State Attorney General and getting a quote on this man's death, as well as the whole Capital Punishment ordeal is a good news story.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I think intervieiwing the State Attorney General and getting a quote on this man's death, as well as the whole Capital Punishment ordeal is a good news story.

Yeah, but do you have to see a person killed in order to get this? I would think the State Attorney General would be happy enough to give someone a quote on this man's death without having to do that.

 

[Byrd Man]

Yeah, but do you have to see a person killed in order to get this? I would think the State Attorney General would be happy enough to give someone a quote on this man's death without having to do that.

Well, I told the Georgia DOC and the guy from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters I would do it. If I want to stay in news, I need to get used to death. So, I'm approaching this like I approach every news story, without bias or prejudice. May be weird to see someone getting killed, but death is a part of life, so I better get used to it.

 

[Matt Murdock]

Would I do it? No way. It will be an image you have for the rest of your life. I hear from people who have looked at some of the violent images that have been so easy to find on the internet, like the beheading of that one guy in Iraq, and they wish they'd never opened that file.

My question for you would be what do you truly gain by seeing such a thing? Also, to view anyone's death, even someone who has commited vile acts, as "a damn good news story" is almost just a sickening. For me, a damn good news story is to not sensationalize this man in any way.

Oh, stop playing the semantics game. It's evident from Byrd Man's post that he views the entire situation as a good story, i.e. one that can provide insight into the criminal justice system. While I agree with your contention that witnessing the killing itself isn't vital to providing a good news story, I vehemently disagree with your supposition that Byrd Man feels it's the key aspect of the story itself. It's evident from his phrasing that that isn't the case.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Oh, stop playing the semantics game. It's evident from Byrd Man's post that he views the entire situation as a good story, i.e. one that can provide insight into the criminal justice system. While I agree with your contention that witnessing the killing itself isn't vital to providing a good news story, I vehemently disagree with your supposition that Byrd Man feels it's the key aspect of the story itself. It's evident from his phrasing that that isn't the case.

And, this question is more than just about the insight into the criminal justice system. Byrd Man probably knows what gets our attention...hence, the subject line being a bit shocking, saying, "I got offeered a chance to see someone get killed..." The subject is this thread is about viewing the killing; but, I do agree that I do not know what the actual news footage would be about.

 

[Belvedere]

Go for it, Byrd.

Chances like this don't come along very often and when they do I think you should take them, terrible things happen in the world (whether you think the actual execution is one of them or not) and it's your job as a news reporter to report them; as morbid as it may be, it's a great opportunity and I don't think you should let it go passing.

 

[Harlekin]

Honestly, even just the execution is a great story.

To describe what happens, something so few people have experience with?

I wouldn't do it, I couldn't handle it, but it'd be something I'd read.

 

[Green Lantern]

As someone vehemently opposed to Capital Punishment, I would never do it, but it all depends on your own morals.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Deja Vu....

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

Yea when did "vehemently" become the cool word? And why didn't I get a memo?

 

[Byrd Man]

Update: I got an email from the Georgia DOC yesterday, I'm going to the execution this Tuesday. The guy was denied clemency yesterday, so it's all going to happen. I have to report at the prison Tuesday at 4:30. Execution is set for 7 and I'm not allowed to bring my recorder into the actual execution, but I get to partake in a Q&A session afterwards.

Nervous about this, mostly because I'm afraid the man may be innocent.

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

What does the evidence say to you? Do you have reason to believe him to be innocent? Is he claiming such?

 

[Harlekin]

Oy. Good luck Byrd. Take care.

 

[Byrd Man]

What does the evidence say to you? Do you have reason to believe him to be innocent? Is he claiming such?

He claims he's innocent (as everyone else in jail does). But since his sentencing, the guys he did the murder with claim he wasn't around and that they killed the guy because they were all drunk and got into a fight.

Although, the evidence points elsewhere, there is always that slim chance that he is innocnet. Heck, there have been plenty of people that were executed and later found out to have been innocent.

 

[wiegeabo]

Update: I got an email from the Georgia DOC yesterday, I'm going to the execution this Tuesday. The guy was denied clemency yesterday, so it's all going to happen. I have to report at the prison Tuesday at 4:30. Execution is set for 7 and I'm not allowed to bring my recorder into the actual execution, but I get to partake in a Q&A session afterwards.

Nervous about this, mostly because I'm afraid the man may be innocent.

I smell book deal...


Seriously, though. If he is innocent, that's a career making story. But seeing someone die is bad enough. Seeing an innocent man die...? *shudders*

 

[Byrd Man]

Honestly, I don't think he's innocent. I think his buddies are confessing to the crime because they already got life in jail and don't want to see him get killed. He was stupid enough to say this during his trial, and I quote "I want to get the death penalty, it's better than staying in prison all my life."

 

[wiegeabo]

Honestly, I don't think he's innocent. I think his buddies are confessing to the crime because they already got life in jail and don't want to see him get killed. He was stupid enough to say this during his trial, and I quote "I want to get the death penalty, it's better than staying in prison all my life."

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

Going back to what I think you said about him before, being a racisit who has had run ins with the law before...... even if he is innocent of this crime....is he guilt of others similar or worse by his own confesion and reputaion? Is he the kind of man that should have already been put down?

 

[Byrd Man]

seconded

 

[Byrd Man]

It wasn't as bad as I thought. He died peacefully, while he was still claiming he was innocent. His last words were "I've made my peace with God. I'm ready."

The part that annoyed me was waiting. Me and the three other media witnesses had to wait in the media staging area outside the prison from 4-6:10. Then, we had to go through all these security checks and we were taken to a guard break room where we sat until about 10 till 7. Then we were put on a van and driven to the actuall execution, where we had to wait forever while guards checked the van to make sure none of us smuggled anything in. It was approx. 7:28 when he died.

Former Madison County Resident Executed Last Night For 1994 Murder

by Matt Johnson, 105.1 WSGC

“I’ve made my peace with God. I’m ready.” Those were the last words convicted killer William Mark Mize spoke before being executed by the state last night at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson. ​

Mize was executed for the 1994 death of Eddie Tucker.​

Shortly before the start of his execution, Mize gave a final statement where he stated that he was sorry that his friend had been killed, but he was still proclaiming his innocence, saying that his case had been a “travesty of justice” and that Oconee County, GA sheriff Scott Berry had victimized him by planting evidence and setting him up. ​

After his statement and a prayer, the execution started at 7:12 with a shot of Sodium Pentothal run intravenously through Mize’s body to sedate him. After that, 50 milligrams of the drug Pavulon was used to paralyze him, and a fatal shot of potassium-chloride stopped his heart. Mize was pronounced dead at 7:28.​

His death marks the 22nd inmate in Georgia to be put to death by lethal injection.

Some said that maybe going to the exection wasn't needed, but I think that in the end it added depth to the story.​

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