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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL DEATH From page 1A Justice on direct appeal where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has conducted a man datory review. One example of such a mandatory review for the CAAF is all death penalty cases. The President of the United States personally authorizes all military death penalties, and can commute the sentence to life with out parole, Robb said, as the governor can do in state cases. Witt is the only Air Force member sitting on death row at Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas. Witt's death sentence is the first Air Force death sentence since the United States vs. Jose Simoy in 1992, which on appeal was set aside, and Simoy is currently serving a life sentence. There are currently nine soldiers on death row, includ ing Witt. The last execu tion was in 1961. U.S. Army Pvt. John A. Bennett was hanged April 13, 1961 after being convicted of rape and attempted murder. Of the 135 executed sinpe 1916, none were from the Air Force. Witt will spend the rest of his life at the U.S. PERMITS From page 1A two other home occupations, which also passed, then attention was turned to the subject of mining regulation, also proposed by Andrews. Currently, mining in Houston is allowed in both residential and agricultural areas, something Andrews said was a serious problem. He proposed mining be lim ited to industrial districts. Most outspokenly, Vice Chairman Tom McMichael agreed, adding, “We need regulations, and this should have been addressed a long time ago,” and the change was approved unanimously by the commission. Other notable decisions were made in the area of traffic safety. MORE From page 1A stores. Sites being consid ered by potential buyers include the Booth Road area and those formerly belong ing to big-box retail centers. The board was unable to estimate just how long any industrial deals would take, saying such projects can range between “a matter of months to never.” Regardless, Law said he believed the industrial growth to be well worth the wait. “It’s more than just recruiting a company that has 100 jobs,” he said. “It’s much greater, and that’s why these manufacturing jobs have the most substan tial economic impact.” i|: m, 1 f o 1: jf§ I ? m v| Disciplinary Barracks Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, dur ing the appeals, with his execution, by lethal injection to be administered there by Army personnel. At the trial, Witt apolo gized to the victims and their families in spoken and unsworn statements - not under oath and not sub ject at cross-examination. “To the Schliepsiek and Bielenberg families, I’m so, so sorry, from the bottom of my being fro taking you son and daughter. To Mr. King, I so sorry I hurt you.” In his 4-page written unsworn statement, entered as defense exhibit BS during the trial, Witt also accepted his fate and his family was planning to move to Kansans to be closer to him. “Most of the time,” Witt said, “I am certain that I would prefer to get death rather than spend 50 to 60 years in prison until I died. I cannot imagine what it will be like sitting through each day and night as I reflect on what I did - after over 15 months of doing that already, I have no doubt that it will be a severe punishment.” Witt said he also realized “that if I get a death sen tence my family will lose any hope in seeing me and watch me redeem myself in some way. Because of that I ask you to please consider giv ing me a life sentence rather than death.” Commissioner Larry Thomson requested the placement of a new stop sign at the intersection of Abercorn and Broughton in Warner Robins, saying speeding traffic entering from Lake Joy Road sight problems and confusion over the right-of-way there, were dangers that needed to be addressed. “There’s two stop signs there, but I think we need another one,” Thomson said following the meeting. “By making a three-way stop, the sight problem has been taken care of.” He also recommended a reduced speed limit of 30 mph on Katherine Biles Road something senior citi zens in that area were said to strongly support. The commissioners agreed with Thomson, and both requests were passed unanimously. y*- RECYG LE JEFFERSON MANOR 8400 COLLECTION Remind your neighbors to recycle and help pre serve our planet’s natural resources. Recycling just a little now can make a big difference for future generations. His mother and stepfather also unsuccessfully asked the members for mercy. “We’re trusting, praying mercy will given. That’s all we ask for,” said Greg Pehling. His mother Melanie Pehling said, “We are asking for mercy. I know this kid has more to offer than what happened that night of July 4th.” On that night Witt dressed in his battle dress uniform (BDU’s), put a combat knife in the trunk of his car, drove onto the base, parked a few blocks away from the Schliepsiek home, ran to King’s house, saw the three victims leaving and followed on foot to the Schliepsiek home and watched them for a while. He then pushed open the front door, stabbed Andy Schliepsiek once, stabbed King once as he had Witt in a headlock, the chased King out of the house and stab bing him twice more in the back. Witt then went back in the house, stabbed Andy www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com www.waynemorrisford.com « www.waynemoirrisford.com » www.wayneniorrisford.com WAYNE MORRIS FORPONUBr ■rajrap M NEW 2006 FORD DUALLY Huge Selection of Povverstroke Diesels I Huge Selection of Povverstroke Diesels Every new Regular. Super, and Crew Cab I including Lanat. FX4, and King Ranch I including Lariat and FX4 Offßoad Pkg truck isO% APR tor SWU YEARS NEW 2006 FORD ! EXPEDITION I Even.- new 06 Expedition is 0i APR for 6 FULL YEARS YOU PAY ZERO APR • www.wavnemorrisford.com • www.waynemorrisford.com - | UNBELIEVABLE SAVINGS ON FORD PROGRAM CARS 12005 TAURUS Si IQljfc ■» $23,700 k? w $ 10,995 WAYNE'MOfIfIIS 1608 SAM NUNN BLVD. 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Witt, 22 at the time, was apprehended on base that 'evening by Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents near the crime scene after returning to the base with a friend. He was held in pretrial detention at the TIME'S RUNNING OUT ON ZERO APR! ■ NEW 2006 fORP . IHSO CROPS W 4 »ooo Yl [ gas ; L CARD j NEW 3006 FORD EXPLORER fsrooo l GAS MlicS* Every new' ‘O6 Explore: is 0% APR for S FULL YEARS ZERO AN ENDS JlllY 31 2006 FREESTAR $34.995! S w s 16,995 478-987-2411 OR CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-741-5472 Moore’s Furniture Solid Wood Bedroom Sale Now’s Your Chance To Save Big On Your Favorite Styles In Stain Or Paint Monday-Saturdav 10am-6pm Houston COnty jail and has been at Levenworth since his conviction in October. Witt has been in the Air Force since Nov. 27,2001 and is an avionics technician in the 116th Air Control Wing, to which he was assigned on Aug. 26, 2002, Robins offi cials said. King, was assigned to the 53rd Combat Communications Squadron of the sth Combat Communications Group at Robins. Schliepsiek also of the sth was a member of the 54th CCS. Schliepsiek arrived at Robins three years ago for his first opera tional assignment. He was a ground radar mainte nance technician and had deployed to Iraq from March to September of 2003. The charges against Witt were filed under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by his squadron commander, Lt. Col. David B. Milner. The maximum penalty under Article 118 is death. It took the 12 officers, the members of the court, eight TRUCK BUYERS: WE'VE GOT THE INVENTORY OTHER DEALERS ONLY DREAM ABOUT ■ NEW 7006 FORD ifSfim&SS ■vTTiWy NEW 2006 FORD EftEEgmS GAS livery new 06 Freesur & Freestyle Is 0% APR for 5 FULL YEARS YOU PAY ZERO APR 2006 FORD FUSION SE 4-Door, Captain's Chairs. DVD $26.900 iS w $ 17.995 A/foore's Jl 0-L Furniture "While o*dtf the Mi U exptoiiM 2950 Riverside Drive • Macon, GA 478.474.1340 FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2006 4 and half hours over three days to decide on the verdict in the sentencing of Witt in the death penalty court martial. “All votes were unanimous,” the president of the panel, Col. Eriksen, told the court, for the death sentence, as were the votes to convict. The 12 members of the panel were identified only by rank and last name as Ist Lt. Albertsen, Capt. Russell, Capt. Branson, Major Straughan, Lt. Col. Koerkenmeier, Lt. Col Wilford, Lt. Col. Hess, Lt. Col, Rowlands, Col. Sharpless, Col. Holcomb, Col. Tufts and Col. Eriksen. 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