University Daily Kansan / Thursday, April 25, 1991
9
Louisiana faces moral dilemma
The Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. — Michael Owen Perry becomes aggressive and hostile when he hears about pop singer Olivia Newton-John, who he thinks is a goddess living under the town where he killed five relatives.
He also has shaved his eyebrows so his brain can get more oxygen.
The issue is not whether Perry is insane. It is whether Perry should be medicated to make him coherent enough to be executed.
The state wants to force Perry to take Haldol, a powerful mind-altering drug, so it can strap him in the electric chair. Defense attorneys say the plan, once tossed by the U.S. Supreme Court, is cruel and unusual.
State District Judge L.J. Hymel is scheduled to take another look at the case today.
"It is contrary to what we have said we are going to do with the death penalty," said Perry's attorney, Keith Nordyke. "As a society, we have decided that we are going to
have the death penalty for certain crimes, but we are not going to execute certain people. That includes the insane."
A 1986 U.S. Supreme Court ruling
from executing anyone who is
banned.
Perry, now 36, was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1983 shootings of his parents, brother, cousin and 2-year-old nephew in the small south Louisiana town of Lake Arthur. He traveled a trailer behind his parents' home.
According to authorities, Perry said he first used a pistol to shoot the victims, then returned later with a shotgun.
During a police hunt for Perry, authorities said they had learned he had written fan letters telling Newton-John that he thought she was a goddess who lived beneath the town. Police also said Perry was turned back by security guards when he tried to visit her California home.
Perry's mental state rapidly fell apart after he went to death row. In
October 1888, Hymel ruled that Perry's mental illness rendered him incompetent for execution. But Hymel also ordered that Perry receive medication — against his will — to regain competence and be executed.
"Louisiana's interest in the execution of that jury's verdict overrides those rights of Mr. Perry." Hymel said.
But last November, the U.S. Supreme Court set aside Hymel's ruling. The high court ordered the judge to restudy the case in light of another ruling that gave prison officials the right to force inmates to take drugs — provided that it was in the prisoner's best medical interest and if the inmate posed a threat to himself or another.
Nordyke said that even with the drugs, Perry never is really coherent. However, the state attorney general's office said that the drugs helped Perry and that the state had a legitimate interest in seeing that he became sane enough to execute.
West Hills APARTMENTS
SEE THE CLASSIFIEDS
1012 Emery Rd.
841-3800
Now leasing for
June or August
acious apts. - furnished
and unfurnished
-1 bedroom apts. 735 sq ft
$280 to $335 per month
(water paid!)
-2 bedroom apts. 950 sq ft
$365 to $415 per month
(water paid!)
*Great location*
*Near campus*
STUDENTS:
OPEN HOUSE
Mon. Wed. Thurs
1:00 - 4:30 p.m. (no appt needed)
This ad for original buildings only
does not include Phase II
STUDENTS:
DON'T MAKE MOVING
A HASSLE!
LET
COLEMAN
AMERICAN
MOVING SERVICES, INC.
Do the hard work for you.
*Trained movers can move your belongings quickly and inexpensively
- Store your items in a safe clean environment
- Ship items internationally at the absolute lowest rates
FREE ESTIMATES
842-1115
Have YOU dined at
The Castle Tea Room,
lately?
Reservations:
843-1151
Make a
SPECTACLE
of yourself.
Etc. Shop
Sunglasses
Clothing & Accessories
For Men & Women
Sunglasses & Costumes
732 Mass. 843-0611
VISA-MC-AM EXP-DISCOVER CARD
CORNING FACTORY STORE REVERE
Owned and operated by Corning Inc., Corning, NY
- Wide assortment of replacement parts for CORNING WARE* and VISIONS*
Cookware, and PYREX* Ovenware.
- CORELLE* Dinnerware plus coordinated accessories.
- REVERE WARE Cookware.
- Overstocks, discontinued products, cosmetic seconds at substantial savings.
Lawrence Riverfront Plaza
Gifts with value that cost less!
All You Can Eat
Suite 316 - Upper Level
749-4855
"We Ship"
Dinner Bar
Every Evening After 5 p.m.
Dinner Bar
707 W.23rd St.
Lawrence, Ks
BUY ONE/ GET ONE FREE!
(After 5 p.m.)
PLU #50 Expires 5-31-91
Rax
707 W. 23rd
Lawrence, Ks
Please present before ordering. One coupon per person, per visit. Not valid in combination with any other offer and not valid as participation Rim Awareness only. No photocopies allowed. Ward void whose proofs Cash amount is valid 12.00.
NO COUPON SPECIALS
- EVERYDAY TWO-FERS - 2-PIZZAS -$9.00
2-TOPPINGS
2-DRINKS
- PRIMETIME SPECIAL -
3-PIZZAS -$11.50
1-TOPPING
4-DRINKS
*PARTY "10" are on sale now at the Ticket Office in Allen Field House Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Cost: $75.00
10 • PIZZAS -$30.00
1-TOPPING
- MONDAY MUNCHIES-
PEPPERONI, SAUSAGE,
-$5.00
EXTRA CHEESE
1-DRINK
DINE-IN NOW AVAILABLE
842-1212
- PICK-UP SPECIAL -
1601 W 23rd Southern Hills Mall
1-PIZZA
1-TOPPING -$3.50
1-DRINK
HOURS
MON-THURS FRI-SAT SUNDAY
11am-2am 11am-3am 11am-1am
WE DELIVER DURING LUNCH!
COWS ARE FREAKY WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOU AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE KAW VALLEY HEMP PICKERS
KERS
DAVID OHLE
ROGER MARTIN
SUSAN BROSSEAU
EDITORS
WITH A
FOREWORD BY
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS
Meet editors David Ohle and Susan Brosseau in the Mt. Oread Bookshop Friday, April 26,1991 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
KU Students
Cost: $75.00
Sports Package Includes:
·5 Home Football Games
·16 Home Basketball Games
- Kansas Relays - 4 Days of Events
KANSAS ATHLETICS
Get your tickets now to catch all the action next year!