I WAS JUST THINKING…A close look at death penalty

Eye-for-eye philosophy carries weight, but modern “no-justice” system corrupts plan

By Norma Adams-Wade

I believe in the death penalty. Let that sink in.

          Before you attack me, hear me out. I believe in that penalty, but before we can use it properly, society must change from unjust to just.

Until flaws are fixed in these Divided States of America, the death penalty as used can be more problem than solution.

          The recent posthumous exoneration of the late Tommy Lee Walker is a prime example of the corrupt “no-justice” system that put Walker, an innocent Black man,  to death here in Dallas 70 years ago.

          Your emotional pain will be palpable if you read historical accounts of how prosecutors manipulated lack of evidence, jury selection, witness omission, and even allowing the District Attorney himself to take the stand to proclaim his opinion that Tommy Lee Walker was indeed guilty. The all-white jury bought the prosecution package hook, line and sinker.

Tommy Lee Walker case

          The Walker case resulted from the Sept 30, 1953 rape and murder of Venice Lorraine Parker, a White woman whose body was found under a bridge near Dallas Love Field. The only evidence was a police officer’s statement saying the victim stated it was “a black man.”

Two other witnesses said they saw “a Black man” in the area. No physical evidence linked any suspect to the murder. A number of Black men were rounded up and interrogated. Four months later, January 29, 1954,  authorities arrested then 19-year-old Walker. Known white supremacist law officials interrogated Walker and coerced a confession from him that he quickly recanted soon after.

Walker was convicted by an all-white jury on March 29, 1954, sentenced to death, and executed on May 12, 1956. Now 70 years later, Walker was recently posthumously exonerated January 21, 2026. That action resulted from dedicated collaboration between the  nonprofit Innocence Project, the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, current Dallas DA John Creuzot, and Dallas County Commissioners Court.

In my view, aspects of the Walker case are reminiscent of Ernest J. Gaines’ fictional book A Lesson Before Dying wherein a Black man in a small Louisiana town during the Jim Crow era is sentenced to death after a racist trial. He is executed. But beforehand, the character’s family teaches him to overcome fear and “die like a man.” Historical records suggest that Walker also died with personal dignity in the face of evil.

Biblical eye-for-eye equal justice philosophy

Point of clarity: I am a life-long, active Christian. And even with strong challenges from atheists, agnostics and scientists, I believe what I read in the Bible, even acknowledging the influence of interpretations  and different language translations.

But reading details of some of society’s heinous murders can make one want to vomit. Details also raise this question: Why allow a convicted violent murderer — with indisputable evidence against them — continue to live? This, after they have taken the lives of their victims, too often through horrendous savagery? And … why should taxpayers foot the bill?

There are exceptions, though. Some cases involving police officers leave me in a fog about applying the death penalty for killing their victims. Cases are endless – not to mention offenses of masked officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But three high-profile examples of victims are: Botham Jean, September 6, 2018 in Dallas; Atatiana Jefferson, October 12, 2019 in Ft. Worth; and George Floyd, May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. You know the familiar details. The question: where does poor judgement override police officers’ line of duty?

Origin of eye-for-eye

Historians say the death penalty has origins in the Bible and the Code of Hammurabi – a 7-ft ancient Babylonian pillar inscribed with 282 laws created by Babylon’s King Hammurabi during his reign, 1792-1750 BC. The laws are known as one of history’s earliest written legal codes, and pre-date the first five books of the Bible known by various names including Law of Moses.

The familiar phrase “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” appears in several Bible scriptures and is deemed to apply to the theory of retribution or equal justice – you kill someone, you get killed. Here are portions of three of the well-known scriptures — all King James Versions (KJV): Exodus 21:23-25 “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life…Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, …” Leviticus 24:19-21 “And if any man cause a blemish…as he hath done, so shall it be done to him…eye for eye, tooth for tooth…,” and Deuteronomy 19:21 “…life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth…”

Subsequently, the New Testament replaced eye-for-eye theory in Sermon on the Mount passage, Matthew 5:38-39 KJV. There, Matthew quotes Jesus as saying in essence: instead of eye for eye, if you are attacked on your right cheek, also turn the left to the assailant. Thus, you are imitating God’s benevolence, providing equal benefits for just and unjust persons.

See accompanying sidebar story for more details about cases that considered or involved death penalty.

[SIDEBAR]

 Here are only a few cases where the death penalty was considered or completed. I have my own opinion about which were correct. You decide your own.

• James Byrd’s Hate Crime murder, June 7, 1998. Three alleged White supremacists were convicted of beating and chaining Byrd by ankles to back of pickup truck in Jasper, Texas and dragging him to death while his body was mutilated and decapitated. (1) Lawrence Brewer Sept. 21, 2011 (2) John William “Bill” King April 24, 2019 both executed by lethal injection. (3) Shawn Berry, convicted of driving truck, only one of three to receive life sentence rather than death. Will be eligible for parole in 2038 at age 63.
• Luigi Nicholas Mangione, December 4, 2024. Became controversial “folk hero” for his anger about insurance companies’ high record of denying claims. Was indicted for fatally shooting insurance executive Brian Thompson in New York City on above date. Prosecutors are seeking death penalty. Jury selection for his federal trial set to begin Sept. 8, 2026.
• Yaser Abdel Said, Aug 9, 2022. Remaineda fugitivefor 12 years before convicted for 2008 murder of his two teenage daughters, Sarah and Amina Said, in Irving, Texas reportedly because he objected to them dating non-Muslims. Prosecutors did not seek death penalty, so he was sentence to life in prison without parole.
• Bryan Kohberger, November 13, 2022. On this date, four University of Iowa students were fatally stabbed, producing at least 150 total wounds — one student stabbed at least 67 times. Kohberger, a Washington State University PhD student, arrested December 30, 2022. Later indicted for first-degree murders and other charges. Sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole. Prosecutors had sought death penalty on June 26, 2023. Court records state that judge entered “not guilty” for him after Kohberger refused to enter a plea. Kohberger finally agreed on June 30, 2025 that he would plead guilty through a plea deal. Stated his guilty plea in court on July 2, 2025. The plea allowed him to avoid death penalty but eliminated rights to any future appeals and guaranteed he would die in prison. Sentenced July 23, 2025. Currently serving sentence in solitary confinement in Kuna, Idaho maximum security prison near Boise.
• Billy Chemirmir,  April 28, 2022. Convicted on this date as serial killer for fatally smothering mainly elderly women during two-year period in Dallas and Collin counties. Indicted on 22 capital murder charges, though authorities said they suspect number of victims was higher. Arrested March 20, 2018, convicted later on two of total charges. Received two life sentences without possibility of parole. Prosecutors did not seek death penalty in any of cases. After conviction, trial, and imprisonment, authorities say on September 19, 2023, Chemirmir was murdered in prison by cellmate who already was serving murder sentence.
• There are countless other sensational current and historic cases where death penalty was considered. These cases include: (1) Tommy Lee Walker, exonerated  Jan. 21, 2026, nearly 70 years after erroneously executed May 12, 1956 in Dallas for Sept. 30, 1953 rape and murder of a White woman; (2) Rodney Reed convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to death in 1998. Celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, advocated for him. His case still on appeal; (3) April 20, 2021, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin found guilty on murder and manslaughter charges. Death penalty not legal in that state. Sentenced to 22-1/2 years in prison for May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd after Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, 29 seconds. Floyd had repeated declared, “I can’t breathe!”  before he died.