Murderer Apologizes, So What

Officer John Pawlowski's mother will never see him again.  His wife will never see him come home.  All because a disgusting waste-of-space chose to cowardly shoot and kill him.  Rasheed Scrugs has pleaded guilty to the February 2009 shooting of Pawlowski.  Scruggs, in a most cowardly manner, shot the Police Officer while holding his gun in his pocket.  Neither the Officer, nor anyone else, ever saw the gun in the cowardly killer's hand before the shots were fired.  This is a striking reminder of the danger every Officer faces. 

Well, since this is America, the land of second chances, the killer's mother apologized to the surviving members of Officer Pawlowski's family.  Of course, she did it in court, in an attempt to convince the jury to spare her murderer-son's life and sentence him to life in prison, instead of the death sentence.  (Story here at Philly.com)  Oh, and the killer's defense attorneys will also show the jury this note  pictured above.  The killer's lawyers plan to argue that it is evidence of his sorrow.  (story here) And of course he had a difficult childhood, so his life should be spared.  Oh, and also, he was high on PCP, so he definitely shouldn't be execute, according to defense lawyers.  Apparently, being high on drugs at least partially excused the killing of a police officer.  Sarcasm italicized for anyone who couldn't tell. 

I understand that the death penalty has its flaws.  I think I may have even blogged about it.  I understand all of the common reasons to not support the death penalty.  But to me, it has its place.  This case is as clear cut a case there ever was for Capital Punishment.  To think that the killer's life could be spared, and tax-payers, including The Police Officer's Family, would have to pay for the killer to eat, sleep, watch TV, lift weights, get a GED, is sickening.