James Byrd’s death forever changed hate crime law. One of his killers is about to be executed.

A man is seen carrying a photograph of James Byrd Jr. outside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit in 2011. By Eli Rosenberg and Eli Rosenberg General assignment reporter covering national and breaking news Email Bio Follow Lindsey Bever Lindsey Bever General assignment reporter covering national and breaking news Email Bio Follow April 24 at 8:05 AM James Byrd Jr.’s body was found in pieces along a country road in Texas in June 1998.

A gruesome scene From the site where Byrd’s remains were found in 1998, police followed a blood trail up a logging road, finding a grassy area where it appeared a fight had occurred. Sandals found at Berry’s apartment were stained with Byrd’s blood and appeared to match some of the footprints from the crime scene.

John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer are escorted from the Jasper County Jail on June 9, 1998, in Jasper, Texas. The trial King’s trial opened in January. Prosecutors from the Jasper County District Attorney’s office showed evidence of King’s “violent hatred” of black people, according to court documents.

Sheriff Billy Rowles and Texas Ranger Ronnie McBride escort John William King through a Jasper County courtroom. A long history of appeals The two other defendants in the case, Brewer and Berry, were tried later. Brewer was convicted of capital murder and was executed in 2011. Berry, the last to be tried, was sentenced to life in prison; prosecutors said that he joined the murder for the thrill but did not share Brewer’s and King’s white supremacist beliefs.

“But we weren’t,” he said in an interview. “I think our juries showed the country and the world that we were not the racist bunch of hicks that we were being portrayed as in the media.”

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Regardless of closure every murderer should receive the death penalty

NO Next Question ...

Only if he’s dragged to death.. I hope he rots in hell

Far right providing impetus to hate crimes,no end in near future.

The evil perpetrated against this man requires a hefty price. Not only was his life taken from him but in a really horribly gruesome manner. I feel so sad for his family! They are left to deal with it. Imagine their anguish. 😫 Only Jesus could heal those wounds of the heart.

An eye for an eye, that's my belief and yea it would give me closure especially if I pulled the switch on the SOB who took a loved one from me deliberately.

Hatred is taught at home. It is a seed planted in the hearts of kids by their evil patents and societies.

I REMEMBER THAT INCIDENT OF HATE.THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT THEY WERE COWARDS PEOPLE LIKE THAT ALWAYS ARE.

Those animals that took this man's life, did not give him the choice to live another 20 years before killing him. It may not bring closure. The victims family has to relive this horrific era, b/c you people want to bring up the animals names that did this to their loved one!

'Will an execution bring any closure?' what kind of nonsense is this. Do we ask 9/11 victims if killing people in Iraq brings closure? Justice is justice.

Yes. It would even be better if the victims could push the button. Exodus 21:25

It won’t but shit like this won’t stop happening unless there is some real consequence

WaPo loves to stir sh*t.

Are you sure Crazy Bernie is not pushing for a stay of execution so this & other monsters can vote?

Well it will close his killer's life that's for sure.

I don’t even believe in the death penalty, but no sympathy for this dude.

Narrator: It won’t

Won't bring him back, but will stop that man from ever doing it again.

Nope.. but execution is punishment for the crime.

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