harrisonsdream
11-17-2006, 06:18 PM
Jurors issue life sentence in Spring pipe attack
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
TOOLS
Email Get section feed
Print Subscribe NOW
HOUSTON — A teenage white supremacist convicted in a savage attack on a Hispanic boy at a party was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
Before jurors began deliberating David Henry Tuck's fate today, prosecutors told them the only appropriate punishment was a life sentence.
Prosecutor Mike Trent said that Tuck's history of increasingly violent crimes shows that he is beyond redemption and rehabilitation. He added that if Tuck were free, he would continue to commit more violent crimes.
"He is an evil person and he is not going to change or get better," Trent said. "We need protection from him. You are the only ones that provide that."
"Even if you give him life in prison, it will be more mercy than he showed to (the victim) that night," Trent said.
Defense attorney Chuck Hinton appealed to the jurors' religious faith, saying that Jesus would show Tuck mercy.
"I know that justice has to be done. I know a terrible thing happened. Justice needs to be done but with mercy," Hinton said.
He also told jurors that Tuck didn't have opportunities in life to make the best choices because he had an abusive and absent father, he was raised by a single mother who had to work all the time, and his only role model was his older brother, a skinhead who is currently in jail.
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
TOOLS
Email Get section feed
Print Subscribe NOW
HOUSTON — A teenage white supremacist convicted in a savage attack on a Hispanic boy at a party was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
Before jurors began deliberating David Henry Tuck's fate today, prosecutors told them the only appropriate punishment was a life sentence.
Prosecutor Mike Trent said that Tuck's history of increasingly violent crimes shows that he is beyond redemption and rehabilitation. He added that if Tuck were free, he would continue to commit more violent crimes.
"He is an evil person and he is not going to change or get better," Trent said. "We need protection from him. You are the only ones that provide that."
"Even if you give him life in prison, it will be more mercy than he showed to (the victim) that night," Trent said.
Defense attorney Chuck Hinton appealed to the jurors' religious faith, saying that Jesus would show Tuck mercy.
"I know that justice has to be done. I know a terrible thing happened. Justice needs to be done but with mercy," Hinton said.
He also told jurors that Tuck didn't have opportunities in life to make the best choices because he had an abusive and absent father, he was raised by a single mother who had to work all the time, and his only role model was his older brother, a skinhead who is currently in jail.