25 Years On Death Row

Missouri executed Roderick Nunley after 25 years on death row.  He had confessed to the abduction, rape and killing of  15 year-old Ann Harrison.  And upon charges being filed and a confession, the girl's hair was found at Nunley's mother's home, where the incident took place.

So why, when this violent criminal was convicted of these crimes, AFTER evidence supported, and AFTER he confessed, did he sit on death row for 25 years? Why did my tax dollars pay to house this guy all that time?  Why was his lawyer allowed to file an appeal, claiming that death by lethal injection was cruel and inhumane? 

I understand innocent until proven guilty.  I understand the filing of an appeal if there is no confession or no physical evidence, as we certainly don't want innocent people being executed if they are truly innocent.  But I don't understand why it takes 25 years to carry out the sentence handed down. You want an appeal?  OK, make one.  But what exactly was this guy appealing?  He did it. He said he did it.  There was evidence to prove he did it.  The court convicted him.  What's left?  If we carried out executions within the month of sentence, we would have less populated prisons, less frivolous appeals, and less tax dollars for housing inmates.  And as for lethal injection being cruel - I believe if you are sentenced to be executed, it was for a violent crime.  And a calm, controlled death is far more than you deserve.

Are these long continuances a ploy by lawyers just to make an extra buck?  I can't say for sure, but that is what I suspect.  And what a waste of the judge's time and taxpayer dollars to even allow these people back into court.

As for rights of prisoners, if you confessed to and were convicted of a violent crime, you no longer have rights.  You gave those up the moment you committed that crime.  And if prison weren't a walk in the park, it might be more of a deterrent for criminals.  If they knew they would be subject to the bare minimum and hard manual labor, they might not be so nonchalant about committing those crimes. 

Seems like no one in the justice system can get a handle on our crime and prisoners.