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I meant to post this on Friday, but once again, my day job got in the way.
Solomon Montgomery, who was charged last year with murdering Officer Gary Skerski, will take a plea deal in Common Pleas Court tomorrow. In return for pleading guilty to murdering the beloved community relations cop, Montgomery will get life in prison without parole or the right to appeal. Prosecutors, in turn, won't pursue the death penalty.
At first glance, it sounds like an anticlimatic ending to a tragic case that left the city on edge for almost two weeks while Montgomery tried to elude a massive dragnet. But a number of cops I spoke with -- including several close to the Skerski family -- believe this is the best legal route to travel.
Bear in mind that a few months after Skerski was murdered, his wife's parents were killed in an auto accident. His children went through more emotional trauma in the span of a few short months than most people do in a lifetime. A lengthy trial -- which would have included an endless display of evidence, including Skerski's blood-stained uniform shirt -- would have no doubt brought a lot of grief back into their lives.
There was also the chance, however slim, that Montgomery's attorneys could have appealed a possible death sentence, and the case could have dragged on for years -- sort of like another famous local cop killer. "There's more than enough evidence to lead to a conviction, but we all felt that way about Mumia, too," noted retired Chief Inspector Joe Fox, one of Skerski's former bosses. "This is one way of guaranteeing that nothing like that could happen again."
So it is what it is, this ending to the Montgomery case. One would hope that it at least gives the Skerski family a measure of closure and a chance to move forward with their healing.
Comments (8)
Truthfully, I disagree with the strategy and Joe Fox. This case, unlike Mumia's, had plenty of eyewitnesses (who would testify) and a ton of physical evidence. I think it is incumbant on the D.A. to go to to the fullest extent of the law to get the maximum punishment of any cop killer. I understand the family issue but the bigger issue is that we as a society have to send a clear message that killing policemen will not be tolerated or pleaded down, and the price is the death sentence. The D.A.'s office came up small on this one.
This asshole will be a cellblock celebrity in prison for the rest of his life, he's a cop killer.
Posted by John Q | October 30, 2007 9:29 AM
Posted on October 30, 2007 09:29
You need to reprint the phrase of a, famous cop killer, Mumia was not and never or ever will be famous for killing Danny Faulkner. He was just another piece of shit cop killer. And on another note, if he goes to jail a cop killer he will be a hero. So lets give him what he deserves, the needle, and stop paying for these assholes for the rest of there lives if we can make it shorter like he made the cops that night. I only wish I were inside that bar that night, he would have never gotten to the chance to kill any cops.
Posted by Don Green | October 30, 2007 12:48 PM
Posted on October 30, 2007 12:48
Two more policemen shot in less that 24 hours.
Shooters think, "hey, why not, no death penalty if I kill them, DA will plead it out".
Funny how reality can make your argument for you.
Posted by John Q | October 31, 2007 12:14 PM
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:14
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PERCEPTION ON THIS CASE BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUMIA HE DIDN'T KILL THAT COP THE FUCKING D A DOESN'T WANT TO RELEASE HIM CAUSE THEY THINK HE IS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY AFTER ALL THE BULLSHIT THEY PUT HIM THROUGH BUT I DO AGREE ON KILLING THESE TWO MOTHERFUCKERS THAT DID KILL THESE TWO COPS IN COLD BLOOD DO DESERVE TO DIE WITHOUT A DOUBT BUT SPENDING THE REST OF THERE LIFE IN PRISON WILL KILL THEM EVEN HARDER
Posted by ms pooh | November 8, 2007 10:06 PM
Posted on November 8, 2007 22:06
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PERCEPTION ON THIS CASE BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUMIA HE DIDN'T KILL THAT COP THE FUCKING D A DOESN'T WANT TO RELEASE HIM CAUSE THEY THINK HE IS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY AFTER ALL THE BULLSHIT THEY PUT HIM THROUGH BUT I DO AGREE ON KILLING THESE TWO MOTHERFUCKERS THAT DID KILL THESE TWO COPS IN COLD BLOOD DO DESERVE TO DIE WITHOUT A DOUBT BUT SPENDING THE REST OF THERE LIFE IN PRISON WILL KILL THEM EVEN HARDER
Posted by ms pooh | November 8, 2007 10:06 PM
Posted on November 8, 2007 22:06
I would have made sure more died
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