GUILTY TX - Maria 'Chrisalee' Aparece, 23, & Huy Ngo, 17, murdered, Houston, 18 June 2006

[southcitymom]

.......however, my issue with the mother and the attorney in this case is that they were IMO making excuses - IF his dad were around, this wouldn't have happened, BECAUSE he seen his mother break down

Did you see this trial?

I didn't, but I've seen several criminal trials both in person and on TV and I have never heard a defense attorney say in a courtroom: IF my client hadn't experienced _____________ (insert trauma here), THEN he never would have committed this crime..."

Most arguments on a Defendant's behalf trying to sway a Judge and jury before sentences go something along the lines of: "this is a person who had a hard life due to these factors, who is worth saving because of these factors and making something of himself, who is truly remorseful for his choices....etc...etc...we ask for your mercy."

I think often whether or not you hear excuses when a defense attorney speaks or you hear someone trying to paint a fuller picture of an individual than what he did on one single day in his life depends solely on your perspective.

 

[NewMom2003]

I agree 100% with what Dr.Laura says. I raise my kids this way. They come first and always will as a matter of fact I have lost some friends along the way because I refuse to go have dinner ''with no kids'' with them or go out for drinks etc etc.. eventually they just stopped calling. I don't care. When my kids are grown I can then have my life back or whatever but for now I dedicate my every minute to them.

You are doing the right thing and if others don't see that then they aren't important enough for you to have in your life! I applaud you!!!!!!!!!!!!! :blowkiss:

 

[SadieMae]

It is so sad that yet another young person is going to die as a result of his choices that night. I wonder what happened with the other 3 involved in this crime. Did they plead out? If so, they probably got life.

I always think it's pertinent to hear what a defendant's life was like - to know some of the causes that could have led them to such a dark place. I don't perceive it as excusing their behavior - I see it as trying to show a full picture of a person to the strangers who will be determining that person's fate.

I am grateful we have defense attorneys willing and skilled at doing this. It is a vital part of our justice system.

I tend to disagree, especially if the DP defendant has a court appointed attorney. The Texas system is under scrutiny and has had some pretty shoddy legal work done on behalf of the defendants. In one case, an appeal was copied from another, they didn't even bother to change the name of the defendent to the present case. One attorney, Ron ____? got a lot of publicity because he got disbarred, he would fall asleep in court or show up obviously drunk. Court deadlines have been missed also rendering the defendant SOL.
It is pertinent to hear about a defendants background, but I as a juror would not let it affect my decision. If a bad/abusive childhood made EVERYONE a criminal, then it's a valid factor of crime. But the majority of kids in the same situations better their lives as adults, therefore I feel very little sympathy for those who turn to crime. Bottom line, that's no excuse. JMO

 

[Mysticchic]

Didn't Susan Smith's stepfather admit to abusing her at the trial?

 

[Nova]

I think often whether or not you hear excuses when a defense attorney speaks or you hear someone trying to paint a fuller picture of an individual than what he did on one single day in his life depends solely on your perspective.

From my perspective, a mother pleading for her child who has been condemned to death is a pitiful figure, even if her excuses are invalid.

I don't feel much call to be outraged about anything a poor woman in that situation says.

 

[Nova]

You are doing the right thing and if others don't see that then they aren't important enough for you to have in your life! I applaud you!!!!!!!!!!!!! :blowkiss:

As do I! Even if Mygirlsadie and Southcitymom and others have different ideas as to what is best for their kids (and it isn't clear whether they do or whether the difference here is merely semantic), the point is all good parents sacrifice for their children and we should applaud that.

Dr. Laura is a a$$. But that doesn't mean she is always wrong. In fact, she talks so much, she pretty much has to get it right now and again.

 

[southcitymom]

As do I! Even if Mygirlsadie and Southcitymom and others have different ideas as to what is best for their kids (and it isn't clear whether they do or whether the difference here is merely semantic), the point is all good parents sacrifice for their children and we should applaud that.

Dr. Laura is a a$$. But that doesn't mean she is always wrong. In fact, she talks so much, she pretty much has to get it right now and again.

Well said. I've no doubt mygirlsadie is an excellent Mom - was just interested in following her perspective.

As far Dr. Laura....well, as we say in the South, "Even a blind hog roots up an acorn sometimes."

 

[Spazkat9696]

I'm glad he did this in TX. Not that I would have wanted him to kill anyone at all but in TX they actually enforce their death penalty

 

[philamena]

What a righteous this kid is! :furious:

I agree. Hope he rots.:behindbar:behindbar

The ^^^^^ killed 2 people.,..what does he expect?

 

[zadari]

your child has to come first to a point but you have to do things to make yourself happy as well ( it makes you a more pleasent person to be around). just because you have a child doesnt mean you need to stop living for yourself . as long as your child is taken care of properly .treated with love kindess ect . i see nothing wrong with a break for mommy here and there . its not healthy (to me ) to spend every waking minute being with or catering to kids. sometimes they become dependant on mommy more than they should then . every parent has to sacrifice something for thier kids but not everything .. my dad was always on me about you gotta sacrifice this and that for your kids and yada but LOL he didnt pay one lick of support for me and didnt even meet me till i was 16 .. ( so ya im venting ) ;-P

 

[SadieMae]

I'm glad he did this in TX. Not that I would have wanted him to kill anyone at all but in TX they actually enforce their death penalty

Yes we don't play around in TX. The schedule is regularly updated. 13 on the hit list from now through Oct 3.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/scheduledexecutions.htm

So far this year it's been bye-bye for 18.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm

 

[Txmom]

My son was raised by a single mom since he was in 8th grade--ME. His father was abusive to the two of us, and I got us out of there as quickly as I could. Guess what? Hes 21 1/2, not a rapist, not a drug addict, not an alcoholic, no murders, no tatoos, no piercings, etc. Hes a good kid, because his mother made sure that she was always there, and that he knew that she was the mother. She tried to be the adult. He was also taught to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. No matter how hard it was, because punishment would be swift, but there would be a punishment if needed. He also knew that if he had a problem no matter what it was, he could come to me. I may not have liked what he did, but as he told me once...mom I was stupid, I need some help. I never told him how dumb he was because of what he did, he already knew that.

Just be there for your kids, and let them know that they are the most important in your lives. Dont give them everything that they want. Give them what they need. Give good solid advice, or seek out good advice. Hug them, and love them. And always sleep alone at home, dont have male friends over for the night. I to this day, do not allow men to enter my house. Its a "thing" that I have, I want my son and a younger daughter to know that the house is their "safe place".

 

[Spazkat9696]

Yes we don't play around in TX. The schedule is regularly updated. 13 on the hit list from now through Oct 3.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/scheduledexecutions.htm

So far this year it's been bye-bye for 18.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm

So I wanted to see how many people were on death row in VA and I came across this http://www.ccadp.org/virginia.htm Any way I looked around the site to see and they are selling plaques memorializing death row victims I could not believe what I was seeing. Anyway VA has 20 people on death row TX has 393 as of 1/1/07 http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/state/

 

[SewingDeb]

I think the punishment fits the crime! two people were killed and assaulted. whether or not he actually pulled the trigger doesnt matter he was there he could have stopped what was going on if he didnt want it to happen.
He NEEDs to die just like his victims!!!
All this violence....I really wish we could go back to hard labor prison. maybe people would think a little harder before making wrong decisions.

And not just two people. This was just part of the group's little crime spree.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/13552741/detail.html


Previous Stories:
June 13, 2007: Verdict Reached In Couple Slaying Trial
June 6, 2007: Interrogation Tapes Shown In Case Of Slain Couple
June 5, 2007: Detectives Testify In Slain Couple Trial
July 3, 2006: Murder Suspect's Mother Fears For Her Life
June 28, 2006: Man Says Crime Spree Suspects Spared His Life
June 27, 2006: Teen Charged In Crime Spree Says He's Not Guilty
June 26, 2006: 5 Suspects Face 15 Capital Murder Charges
June 23, 2006: Bodies Of Missing Woman, Teen Possibly Found
June 22, 2006: Couple Disappears After Carjacking
May 26, 2006: Retired Teacher Shot, Killed At Carwash

 

[SewingDeb]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/9464449/detail.html

Police said the crime spree began May 26 with the slaying of retired wood shop teacher Brady Davis, 61. It ended around June 20 when Jose Lopez was found fatally shot.

Investigators said Davis was attacked at gunpoint by Johnson and Fields at a car wash. He was found next to his truck, dead from a single gunshot wound.

Lopez was carjacked when he stopped at a co-worker's home. He was forced into the back seat of his car, robbed, shot and left in his vehicle, officials said.

Detectives are looking into other cases to see if the suspects can be linked to more crimes, including the shooting death of Guadencio Bahena, 32, on June 14 in northeast Houston.

 

[SadieMae]

In his case the death penalty was warranted. They sure made a lot of excuses for him! I have no sympathy for his mother who NOW wants to act like a mother. Her children were abused by her boyfriends (more than one), and neglected by her. Her kids were not as important as having a man in her life apparently. He has a 1 year old child also, which is sad for the child. The absent father passes to the next generation.

 

[jannuncutt]

You know, I don't know whether or not what the Mother said about her son's childhood is true but, I do wonder how she sleeps at night!

 

[southcitymom]

My son was raised by a single mom since he was in 8th grade--ME. His father was abusive to the two of us, and I got us out of there as quickly as I could. Guess what? Hes 21 1/2, not a rapist, not a drug addict, not an alcoholic, no murders, no tatoos, no piercings, etc. Hes a good kid, because his mother made sure that she was always there, and that he knew that she was the mother. She tried to be the adult. He was also taught to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. No matter how hard it was, because punishment would be swift, but there would be a punishment if needed. He also knew that if he had a problem no matter what it was, he could come to me. I may not have liked what he did, but as he told me once...mom I was stupid, I need some help. I never told him how dumb he was because of what he did, he already knew that.

Just be there for your kids, and let them know that they are the most important in your lives. Dont give them everything that they want. Give them what they need. Give good solid advice, or seek out good advice. Hug them, and love them. And always sleep alone at home, dont have male friends over for the night. I to this day, do not allow men to enter my house. Its a "thing" that I have, I want my son and a younger daughter to know that the house is their "safe place".

It's very sad that the young man sentenced to death in this case didn't have a mother like you!

 

[OkieGranny]

From February 2008:

http://www.chron.com/life/mom-houst...ed-of-capital-murder-in-teacher-s-1604701.php

Johnson and Fields were convicted in the carjacking murders of Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo. Two other suspects, Timothy Randle, 20, and a juvenile, were arrested in the June 18 incident...

Fields was convicted in September and sentenced to life in prison.

Randle is serving 25 years for murder, per Texas DOC:

http://offender.tdcj.state.tx.us/OffenderSearch/offenderDetail.action?sid=07481051

 

[YESorNO]

Convicted Texas killer wins stay of execution

"HOUSTON (AP) A federal judge has granted a request to delay this week's scheduled execution of a Texas inmate condemned for shooting a couple to death during a carjacking nearly 13 years ago.

The judge in Houston on Tuesday granted a stay for Dexter Johnson.

His execution was slated for Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett says he granted the delay in part over concerns of ineffective representation by Johnson's longtime appellate attorney, Patrick McCann.


Johnson, 30, was condemned for the June 2006 slayings in Houston of Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo that prosecutors say were part of a nearly month-long crime rampage.

Johnson has long maintained he's innocent and has argued he can't be executed because he is intellectually disabled."

Convicted Texas killer wins stay of execution