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Her case has stirred up a debate about punishment for women when it comes to murder cases.<ref name="dailymail1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314170/Supreme-Court-reject-Teresa-Lewis-death-row-appeal-Virginia.html#ixzz10OTecMa9 |title=Supreme Court reject Teresa Lewis death row appeal in Virginia &#124; Mail Online |publisher=Dailymail.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-09-24}}</ref>
Her case has stirred up a debate about punishment for women when it comes to murder cases.<ref name="dailymail1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314170/Supreme-Court-reject-Teresa-Lewis-death-row-appeal-Virginia.html#ixzz10OTecMa9 |title=Supreme Court reject Teresa Lewis death row appeal in Virginia &#124; Mail Online |publisher=Dailymail.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-09-24}}</ref>


==Conviction(s) & Sentencing==
==Convictions==


1. Capitol Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-31<br>
1. Capitol Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-31<ref> COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Capital murder defined; punishment. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-31</ref><br>
2. Conspiracy/Cap. Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-2(2)<br>
2. Conspiracy/Cap. Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-2(2) <ref> COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Conspiracy to commit felony defined. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-22</ref><br>
3. F/A - Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-53.1<br>
3. F/A - Murder VCC &sect; 18.2-53.1 <ref>COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Use or display of firearm in committing felony. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-53.1</ref><br>
4. F/A - Robbery VCC &sect; 18.2-53.1<br>
4. F/A - Robbery VCC &sect; 18.2-53.1 <ref>COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Use or display of firearm in committing felony. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-53.1</ref><br>
5. Robbery VCC &sect; 18.2-58<br>
5. Robbery VCC &sect; 18.2-58<ref> COMMONWEALTH of Virginia How punished. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-58</ref><br>


Cases for convictions of 1-5<ref>{{cite court | litigants = Teresa Wilson Bean LEWIS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia | opinion = CR02000927-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000928-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000929-00 (20yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (J. L.), CR02000930-00 (20Yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (C.L.), CR02000931-00 (Life) Robbery, CR02000932-00 (3Yrs) F/A - MURDER (J.L.), CR02000933-00 F/A - MURDER (C.L.) (5Yrs), CR02000934-00 (5Yrs) F/A - ROBBERY | court = CIRCUIT COURT OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY | date = 2006-06-23}}</ref>
[[Court]] cases for [[conviction]](s) of 1-5; in summary [[Teresa Lewis]] was sentenced to two [[death sentence]]s, a [[Life imprisonment| life sentence]], plus 53 additional years.<ref>{{cite court | litigants = Teresa Wilson Bean LEWIS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia | opinion = CR02000927-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000928-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000929-00 (20yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (J. L.), CR02000930-00 (20Yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (C.L.), CR02000931-00 (Life) Robbery, CR02000932-00 (3Yrs) F/A - MURDER (J.L.), CR02000933-00 F/A - MURDER (C.L.) (5Yrs), CR02000934-00 (5Yrs) F/A - ROBBERY | court = CIRCUIT COURT OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY | date = 2006-06-23}}</ref>

Teresa Lewis and her defense attorneys failed in more than 7300 appeals<ref> Documentation http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/23/womans-execution-nears-virginia/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+foxnews/national+(Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text)</ref>. to [[Stay_of_execution | stay the execution]].


== Execution==
== Execution==

Revision as of 10:20, 25 September 2010

Teresa Lewis
Born(1969-04-26)April 26, 1969
Virginia, U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 2010(2010-09-23) (aged 41)[1][2]
Greensville Correctional Center, Jarratt, Virginia, U.S.
Criminal statusExecuted
SpouseJulian C. Lewis Jr. Murdered
ChildrenCharles LewisStepson Murdered
Conviction(s)Capitol Murder
Conspiracy/Cap. Murder
F/A - Murder
F/A - Robbery
Robbery
Criminal penaltyDeath by lethal injection

Teresa Lewis (April 26, 1969 – September 23, 2010)[1][3] was an American murderer and, prior to her execution, the only woman on death row in Virginia.[4] Lewis was sentenced to death for hiring two men to kill her husband, Julian Clifton Lewis, Jr., and her stepson, Charles J. Lewis, in their Pittsylvania County home on the night of October 30, 2002.[5] This was, according to a later interview, to collect life insurance money for the two men. Her two accomplices, Matthew Jessee Shallenberger, then 21, and his former roommate and friend Rodney Lamont Fuller, then 19, were sentenced to life terms at their separate trials. Schallenberger committed suicide in prison in 2006. A judge deemed Lewis the crime's mastermind and called her "the head of this serpent". Lewis's IQ was measured to be as low as 70.[6] Lewis's daughter, Christie Lynn Bean, served five years because she knew about the plan but remained silent.[7]

Her case has stirred up a debate about punishment for women when it comes to murder cases.[8]

Conviction(s) & Sentencing

1. Capitol Murder VCC § 18.2-31[9]
2. Conspiracy/Cap. Murder VCC § 18.2-2(2) [10]
3. F/A - Murder VCC § 18.2-53.1 [11]
4. F/A - Robbery VCC § 18.2-53.1 [12]
5. Robbery VCC § 18.2-58[13]

Court cases for conviction(s) of 1-5; in summary Teresa Lewis was sentenced to two death sentences, a life sentence, plus 53 additional years.[14]

Teresa Lewis and her defense attorneys failed in more than 7300 appeals[15]. to stay the execution.

Execution

Teresa Lewis was executed on September 23, 2010, at 9 p.m. by lethal injection, at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt.[16][17] This made her the 12th woman to be executed in the U.S. since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976[5][6] and the first woman in the state of Virginia executed since 1912 (the previous woman executed was Virginia Christian who died in the electric chair). Lewis was the first woman in Virginia to be executed by lethal injection.[18][19] Lewis was also the first woman to be executed in the U.S since Frances Newton in 2005,[20] and the second woman to be executed since the noted execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2002 in the state of Florida.[5] On September 17, 2010, Virginia governor Bob McDonnell decided to not stop Lewis's upcoming execution,[21] stating: "Having carefully reviewed the petition for clemency, the judicial opinions in this case, and other relevant materials, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was imposed by the Circuit Court and affirmed by all reviewing courts".[21] An appeal was filed to the Supreme Court of the United States for a stay of execution and subsequently rejected on September 21, 2010.[20] Lewis's supporters also stated that "Lewis is deeply remorseful and has been a model prisoner, helping fellow female inmates cope with their circumstances."[22][23] Lewis herself had stated that "I just want the governor to know that I am so sorry, deeply from my heart. And if I could take it back, I would, in a minute ... I just wish I could take it back. And I'm sorry for all the people that I've hurt in the process."[23]

Publicity worldwide

The prospect of Teresa Lewis's execution started a debate in both the U.S and other parts of the world concerning the death penalty in general, and the sentences for women in murder cases more specifically.[24][25] Lewis's thousands of supporters, including the thriller writer John Grisham, argued that her death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment.[8] Lewis's low IQ was also a matter of discussion, with supporters citing this as a reason she should not have been sentenced to death.[25]

Amnesty International, which opposes the death penalty under all circumstances, also spoke out against the death penalty in the case of Teresa Lewis.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hartenstein, Meena (2010-09-23). "Last supper before execution for Teresa Lewis: Fried chicken, sweet peas, Dr. Pepper, says report". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  2. ^ "Teresa Lewis Put to Death". Whsv.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  3. ^ http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/103679179.html>
  4. ^ "Emotions Rise Over Pending Execution of Teresa Lewis". Wset.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  5. ^ a b c Lauren Frayer Contributor. "Teresa Lewis to Be Executed in Virginia". Aolnews.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b "Teresa Lewis Execution: Death Penalty for Virginia Woman with Borderline Mental Retardation - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  7. ^ Martinez, Edecio (2010-08-02). "Teresa Lewis Scheduled to be First U.S. Woman Executed Since 2005 - Crimesider". CBS News. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  8. ^ a b "Supreme Court reject Teresa Lewis death row appeal in Virginia | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  9. ^ COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Capital murder defined; punishment. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-31
  10. ^ COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Conspiracy to commit felony defined. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-22
  11. ^ COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Use or display of firearm in committing felony. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-53.1
  12. ^ COMMONWEALTH of Virginia Use or display of firearm in committing felony. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-53.1
  13. ^ COMMONWEALTH of Virginia How punished. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-58
  14. ^ Teresa Wilson Bean LEWIS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia, CR02000927-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000928-00 (Death) CAPITAL MURDER, CR02000929-00 (20yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (J. L.), CR02000930-00 (20Yrs) CONSPIRACY/CAP. MURDER (C.L.), CR02000931-00 (Life) Robbery, CR02000932-00 (3Yrs) F/A - MURDER (J.L.), CR02000933-00 F/A - MURDER (C.L.) (5Yrs), CR02000934-00 (5Yrs) F/A - ROBBERY (CIRCUIT COURT OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY 2006-06-23).
  15. ^ Documentation http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/23/womans-execution-nears-virginia/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+foxnews/national+(Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text)
  16. ^ Steinmetz, Katy (2010-09-10). "Virginia Woman Faces Execution amid Calls for Leniency". TIME. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  17. ^ Grandmother Teresa Lewis to be executed in Virginia after last minute reprieve refused
  18. ^ AFP, Sep 21, 2010, 01.24pm IST. "Virginia to execute first woman in almost 100 years - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Teresa Lewis, first woman to be executed by Virginia in nearly 100 years, begs Gov. for intervention". Nydailynews.com. 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  20. ^ a b "Teresa Lewis Virginia: 1st US execution Of Woman Since 2005". News.spreadit.org. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  21. ^ a b "McDonnell Will Not Stop Lewis's Execution". Whsv.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  22. ^ "As Teresa Lewis faces execution, death penalty expert says evidence doesn't support lethal sentence". Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  23. ^ a b c From Dugald McConnell and Brian Todd, CNN. "Virginia puts woman to death by lethal injection - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Tom Leonard (2010-09-20). "Is it because Teresa Lewis's a woman she's to be executed by lethal injection? | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  25. ^ a b "Growing resentment as Virginia to execute 'borderline mentally ill' woman". Thaindian.com. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-24.

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