Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Kenneth W. Smith - Ohio Death Row

  1. #1
    Guest
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    5,534

    Kenneth W. Smith - Ohio Death Row




    Summary of Offense:

    On May 12, 1995, Smith murdered 58-year-old Lewis Ray and 54-year-old Ruth Ray in their Hamilton home. Mr. Ray had previously lent Smith $2,500, which Smith had not repaid. Smith struck Mr. Ray in the face with a hammer, slit his throat and signaled to his brother, Randy Smith, to choke Mrs. Ray to death. Then Smith and his brother stole jewelry and money from the house. Smith confessed to police after bragging to his friend about the murder and showing him the stolen jewelry.

    Smith has been on death row since February 13, 1996.

  2. #2
    Guest
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    5,534
    On June 6, 2009, Smith was denied a Certificate of Appealability by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

    Opinion is here:

    http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions...9a0204p-06.pdf

    Certiorari was denied by the US Supreme Court on November 30, 2009.

    A request to set an execution date for Smith was submitted on March 1, 2010.

  3. #3
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Ohio sets execution dates for seven killers

    The Ohio Supreme Court today set execution dates for seven convicted killers, bringing to nine the total scheduled this year.

    One of those scheduled is Joseph D. Murphy, of Marion County. On Feb. 1, 1987, Murphy slashed the throat of 72-year-old Ruth Predmore, who had hired him to do yard work.

    Murphy is to be lethally injected on Oct. 18, the last of nine consecutive months in which an execution is scheduled.

    The court has a total of 14 death-penalty cases in which prosecutors asked that an execution date be set. However, the court delayed setting dates for several months, possibly because of concerns related to a national shortage of the lethal-injection drug used in Ohio.

    However, two weeks ago, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction announced that it will switch drugs in its execution protocol, to pentobarbital, a fast-acting barbiturate, from sodium thiopental.

    The new drug is scheduled to be used for the first time on March 10 for the execution of Johnnie Baston of Lucas County.

    Executioners will use the last of the old drug for the scheduled Feb. 17 execution of triple-murderer Frank Spisak of Cuyahoga County.

    The inmates and new execution dates: Clarence Carter, Hamilton County, April 12; Daniel Bedford, Hamilton County, May 17; Shawn L. Hawkins, Hamilton County, June 14; Kenneth W. Smith, Butler County, July 19; Brett X. Hartman, Summit County, Aug. 16; Billy Slagle, Cuyahoga County, Sept. 20; Murphy, Oct. 18.

    http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...s.html?sid=101

  4. #4
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Execution date set for convicted double murderer

    A man convicted of murdering two people 16 years ago in their Hamilton home is scheduled to be executed in July, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

    The Ohio Supreme Court today set Kenneth W. Smith’s execution for July 19, according to the Dispatch’s web site.

    Smith was convicted for the May 1995 double murders of Lewis and Ruth Ray, according to court records.

    Smith was charged with two counts with the aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated robbery, according to court records. A jury convicted him as charged and recommended the death penalty on the aggravated murder counts, court records show.

    The trial court sentenced Smith to death, according to court records.

    http://www.journal-news.com/news/cri...r-1075959.html

  5. #5
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Ohio to adjust execution so cancer-stricken inmate who lost larynx can make last statement

    Ohio will make it easier for an inmate who lost his larynx to cancer to make a final statement at his execution.

    Prison officials are using the change as part of their argument that a federal judge should dismiss a lawsuit challenging Ohio's execution procedures.

    The state will raise the gurney where Kenneth Smith will lie and let him keep one arm free to make it easier for him to use his artificial voice box. It would be the first time an Ohio inmate has not been completely strapped down since the state resumed the death penalty in 1999.

    The 45-year-old Smith is scheduled to die July 19 for killing Lewis and Ruth Ray in their Hamilton home in 1995.

    http://www.therepublic.com/view/stor...-Penalty-Ohio/

  6. #6
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,740
    The fact he has cancer will no doubt be used in an unsuccessful attempt to gain clemency.

  7. #7
    Administrator Michael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    1,515
    Wait a second JLR - often they blame the state for bad medical treatment so in this case L.I. is some kind of clemency.

  8. #8
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Clemency Hearing Scheduled

    Is there a reason a man convicted of robbing and murdering a middle-aged couple in their home should not get the death penalty?

    The Ohio Parole Board will conduct a death penalty clemency hearing for inmate Kenneth Smith, #326-630, on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

    The hearing will be held at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Operation Support Center location at 770 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.

    Smith was convicted of the May 12, 1995 murders of 58 year-old Lewis Ray and 54 year-old Ruth Ray in their home in Hamilton, Ohio.

    http://hamilton-middletown.fox19.com...e-murder/71693

  9. #9
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Butler County killer wants his life spared

    A Butler County inmate who is scheduled to be executed July 19 for robbing and killing a Hamilton couple in 1995 wants his life to be spared.

    Kenneth W. Smith, 45, has asked for a clemency hearing Thursday in the hopes of persuading the Ohio Parole Board that he should spend the rest of his life in prison.

    Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said he will strongly argue against commuting Smith's death sentence.

    "I feel that in this particular case it is long overdue that we proceed with the execution of Kenneth Smith," he said Wednesday. "He's been given every opportunity to make whatever argument he has had to make in the appellate process. It is now time to move forward."

    Kenneth Smith was considered the ringleader when he and his brother Raleigh Smith went to the home of Lewis and Ruth Ray on May 12, 1995 with the intention of robbing the 50-something couple.

    Kenneth Smith beat Lewis Ray in the head with a hammer and slit his throat. Raleigh "Randy" Smith strangled Ruth Ray after his brother signaled him to kill her.

    Raleigh Smith, 47, is serving 30 years to life in prison.

    Inmates headed for execution have a right to ask for a clemency hearing. Kenneth Smith will not be present at Thursday's hearing, state corrections officials said.

    Kenneth Smith's attorney, Sharon Hicks, said her client's violent and abusive upbringing and a documented history of psychiatric hospitalizations for depression and mood disorders is a large part of his clemency request.

    In addition, the Parole Board will be asked to consider that Raleigh Smith received a lesser sentence.

    "Each was physically responsible for the death of one of the victims. (Raleigh Smith) got 30 years to life," Hicks said. "Kenny deserves clemency."

    The parole board will refer its recommendation in about a week to Gov. John Kasich, who makes the final decision.

    Kenneth Smith, who had his larynx removed about two years ago because of cancer and uses a voice box to speak, is the second local case to be considered for clemency this month.

    On June 8, Kasich halted the execution of convicted killer Shawn Hawkins and commuted the sentence to life without parole, saying that details of Hawkins' role in a double slaying were "frustratingly unclear."

    Hawkins was convicted in the 1989 fatal shootings of Diamond Marteen and Terrence Richard during a drug deal in Mount Healthy.

    Kenneth Smith would become the first Ohio inmate that won't be completely strapped down if the execution goes through next month. In a recent decision, state corrections officials said Kenneth Smith could leave one arm free to make a final statement using his voice box.

    http://m.cincinnati.com/localheadlin...06230311&f=879

  10. #10
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Death penalty case of Kenneth Smith before Kasich soon

    The attorneys for 45-year old Kenneth Smith are asking Ohio Governor John Kasich for clemency.

    Smith and his brother Randy were convicted of robbing and killing Ruth and Lewis Ray in their Hamilton home in May of 1995.

    The new development is spawning differing views on this case and on capital punishment overall.

    FOX19 spoke with the Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser and a local civil rights group, who said Smith's life should be spared.

    The 6th District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati is just one of the courts that has heard the appeals Smith has made to stave-off his death sentence.

    Gmoser said he recommended no mercy to the Clemency Board Thursday.

    "The Rays knew the Smith brothers," Gmoser said.

    They were neighbors. Lewis Ray was a flea marketer and his wife, Ruth, was a registered nurse.

    Both Smiths were convicted of murder with death penalty specifications, but only one brother got sentenced to death row and that was Kenneth Wayne Smith.

    "Randy Smith received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 30-years," Gmoser said.

    So, why didn't they both get the death penalty?

    "That was a question raised by the Clemency Board," Gmoser said. "And the answer to that is, from the State of Ohio's position, that Randy was subordinate to his brother, that Kenneth Wayne Smith was the mastermind, if you can pardon the contradiction in that term, he was the one who hatched the plan."

    Gmoser said Kenneth murdered Lewis Ray.

    "Kenneth Smith used a knife and almost decapitated Lewis Ray," Gmoser said. "Then rolled him over and took his wallet out of his back pocket."

    "I just seen my step dad laying on the floor right as you walk in the door," said Ruth's son David Lester in a 1995 interview. "When I seen him, I yelled, 'Mom!', walked through and I found her."

    Gmoser said Kenneth directed Randy to strangle and kill Mrs. Ray when he signaled his brother.

    "He winked at him," Gmoser said.

    "They got about $1,300 in cash from him," Gmoser said. "They ransacked the house after they killed these people, then proceeded to hide their crime by wearing socks over their hands while they searched through the house."

    "This shouldn't have happened," said Ruth's son, Jim Lester in a 1995 interview. "They were nice people."

    "Nothing but greed, pure and simple", Gmoser said.

    Thursday he told the Clemency Board, the punishment fits the crime.

    "The saying is, an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth would leave us all blind and toothless," said Sister Alice Gerdeman, CDP, who is with the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center in Cincinnati.

    She said ending Smith's life will not end the suffering for any of the victims in this case.

    "Well, it is the way the system works," Gerdeman said. "But it also does give us pause particularly when you're talking about something as critical as human life and that we may kill someone."

    Gerdeman said they will write Governor Kasich and pray for Smith's clemency.

    "My argument to the board was, clemency should be granted only in those extraordinary circumstances or after all the appeal processes there is still some nagging legitimate question of innocence," Gmoser said.

    A decision from the Clemency Board is expected July 1. It will then go to Governor John Kasich, who has the final say.

    Out of six death penalty cases Kasich has faced so far, he's only granted clemency to one person - Shawn Hawkins.

    Should Smith's execution proceed, the state will make accommodations.

    They will let him keep one arm free during the lethal injection, to make it easier for him to make his final statement.

    Smith had his larynx removed, since he was incarcerated, and uses an artificial voice box.

    http://www.fox19.com/story/14968019/...re-kasich-soon

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •