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Virginia electrocutes murderer who taunted prosecutors after first death sentence was reversed

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local article, "Paul Warner Powell, whose taunting letter to prosecutors led to his conviction, was electrocuted tonight at 9:09 for the 1999 murder of a 16-year-old girl in her Manassas-area home."  Here are more details: Powell's first capital-murder conviction was thrown out on appeal.  Believing he no longer could face a death sentence, he wrote Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. Ebert an abusive letter in which he admitted he attempted to rape Stacie and boasted about the crimes in detail.  The letter provided grounds for Powell to be tried again for capital murder and sentenced to death.... Powell chose to die in the electric chair instead of by injection.  Virginia death row inmates were given the choice on Jan...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on March 19, 2010 (boomark / email).