Oklahoma Pharmacist for Killing Would Be Robber...injustice?

Sileria · Jul 14, 2011

Oklahoma Pharmacist Sentenced to Life for Killing Would Be Robber...injustice?

http/www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43710936...rts/?GT1=43001

Oklahoma pharmacist sentenced to life for killing would-be robber
Fifty-nine-year-old calls his sentence 'an injustice of a monumental proportion'

An Oklahoma pharmacist has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder in the shooting death of a teenager who tried to rob the south Oklahoma City pharmacy where he worked.

Fifty-nine-year-old Jerome Ersland was sentenced Monday after Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott rejected a defense motion to suspend the sentence.

Ersland had no reaction and said nothing as the sentence was handed down. As he left the courtroom, he responded to a reporter's shouted question by calling the sentence "an injustice of a monumental proportion."

A jury convicted Ersland and recommended the life with the possibility of parole sentence for the May 2009 shooting of 16-year-old Antwun Parker. Defense attorney Irven Box said the conviction and sentence will be appealed.

Confronted by two holdup men, Ersland pulled a gun, shot one of them in the head and chased the other away. Then, in a scene recorded by the drugstore's security camera, he went behind the counter, got another gun, and pumped five more bullets into Parker as he lay on the floor unconscious.

At the trial, prosecutors argued that Ersland crossed into the wrong when he shot the unarmed and unconscious Parker five more times.

Ersland contended that he was defending himself and two co-workers from a robber who still posed a threat.

'Please don't give up hope'
Thousands of Ersland's supporters have reportedly signed petitions pushing Gov. Mary Fallin to pardon the pharmacist, or ease his sentence.
Video: Was it murder or self-defense? (on this page)

"Please people, don't give up hope. We got 17,000 signatures in a month," Ersland's friend and activist Karen Monahan told KOCO.

Monahan told the station she is selling T-shirts and collecting signatures to help save the life of her good friend.

"The last time I talked to him (Ersland), he was over-excited. He's getting letters (of support) from people he doesn't even know," Monahan reportedly said.
Click to expand...

IDK how many of y'all are following this story, but it's ridiculous. Basically, he killed someone had had already incapacitated after he and a friend attempted to rob the store at gunpoint. He was then charged for first degree murder - convicted with the MAXIMUM penalty - and is currently being sued by one of the robber's mothers.

IMO if you enter a store armed with the intent to rob and kill anyone who opposes, you take on the risk of encountering resistance, which could be deadly. Premeditated Murder??!!! No way. This dude did not go to work plotting to kill. It was a reaction to being held at gunpoint. The guy was a military veteran (Lt. Col, 2 ranks from General) - he served my country (USA) for 20 years, and this is how he's repaid. How does Casey Anthony go free, while a veteran gets to rot in prison? Ridiculous.

If you don't want to be shot to death, don't commit armed robbery.

Dr. Ersland woke up that morning intending to provide a service to the community and make money legitimately. The deceased juvenile intended to risk many peoples lives to make a small financial gain. Yet the Doctor is going to jail and the robber's mother is about to have a pay day. What kind of world do we live in?

ghost521 · Jul 14, 2011

So....the "you can sue a house owner if you hurt yourself trying to rob something from his house" myth is not quite a myth?

Ashtar · Jul 14, 2011

This is just another example of the stupidity the court system shows at times.

Log in or Sign up

Oklahoma Pharmacist for Killing Would Be Robber...injustice?

Sileria Expert Forum Legend

ghost521 Lucent's name is Jeremy

Ashtar Enraged Ashtarius Forum Legend

Share This Page