Officer Golden’s killer to be sentenced soon
Posted by BrianThe testimony in the sentencing phase of Benito Alberran’s trial for killing Huntsville police officer Daniel Golden concluded today. Now the jury is charged with recommending a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison. Earlier the jury convicted Alberran, who was in the U.S. illegally, of murdering Golden back in 2005.
The details of how Golden was killed are particularly horrific. Golden was responding to a domestic disturbance when Alberran brandished a gun. Shots were fired and Golden attempted to return fire when his gun jammed. Alberran shot Golden in the chest from a distance of a little over an arm’s length. While Golden lay on the ground pleading for his life Alberran stood over him and shot him twice in the face at point blank range .
This wasn’t simply a murder. It was an execution. A heartless, cold blooded execution.
Golden is survived by a wife and two children.
During the sentencing hearings the defense presented a video of Alberran’s 11-year-old daughter lamenting that she hasn’t been able to visit her cop-killer father because children must be 12 to visit someone in the Madison County Jail. She said that when she turns 12 next year the first thing she will do is visit her father.
I’m sorry, but I do not find that at all compelling. Unfortunately for Officer Golden’s children there isn’t a mere age restriction preventing them from visiting their father. Because of Benito Alberran they will never see their father again. For every weeping relative or friend pleading for Alberran’s life to be spared all I can think about are their counterparts in the Golden family who will never see their loved one again regardless of how many tears are shed.
I am strongly in favor of the death penalty in this case. Alberran’s guilt is not in question; the murder took place in broad daylight with numerous witnesses. The Innocence Project will not have to spend 10 seconds reviewing this case to determine Alberran is guilty. To let him live his life out in prison would be a grave injustice. I only wish they could drag him straight out of the courtroom and get it over with immediately.
Update: The jury made the right decision: they recommended the death penalty.
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June 26th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I agree this is horrendous but had he killed an unarmed civilian, would the public be so stirred up? Why is he more deserving of death then the other 25 murderers who killed someone else in cold blood?
June 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I think the circumstances play a part. Some murders are criminal on criminal, which is hardly going to enrage anyone. Crimes of passion can be sensational depending on the circumstances, but they typically don’t carry the same shock factor because we can all conceptualize (on some level) the unreasonable reaction if, for example, you find your wife in another man’s embrace. I think, though, that most “senseless” (aren’t they all?) murders - especially execution style ones like this - grab the public’s attention because it is hard to imagine the depravity necessary to take another person’s life for no apparent reason.
As for the police aspect, there is no justification for killing (or assaulting in any way) a police officer who is performing his lawful duties. I believe that Alberran being an illegal alien further stoked public outrage in this specific case. But when those charged with protecting the public perish in the line of duty it is always newsworthy. It reminds us of the dangers associated with their jobs and helps us remember why we should be thankful that they do what they do to keep us safe.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:25 am
The circumstances of course are important here, but anyone who kills someone like this deserves to die.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Yesterday really made me think about the change of venue back to HSV. The mayor, of the same town of trial, gave a statement praising the decision and every officer in town and county came out for the verdict. That is a lot of pressure on the judge to give the death penalty. If she gives life, what is her future as a judge?
June 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Wayne, do you remember one of this judge’s recent sentences that left a lot to be desired?
June 27th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Oh yes. And I think she does too. Of course the DA begged her to accept the plea agreement in the Love case but the Judge took all the heat.