Virginia: Jackson executed for 2000 murder

Kent Jermaine Jackson was put to death tonight for the murder of an elderly Newport News neighbor 8 years ago.

Jackson, 26, was executed by injection and was pronounced dead at 9:18 p.m.

He was convicted of capital murder for the brutal slaying of Beulah Mae Kaiser, 79, a widow who lived across the hall from Jackson and his roommate, Joseph M. Dorsett, 29. Dorsett also participated in April 16, 2000, slaying and was sentenced to 135 years.

Kaiser's body was discovered in her apartment 2 days later. Her walking cane was shoved down her throat, a jugular vein cut and her skull fractured. She had been kicked, suffered several other stab wounds and had been sexually assaulted.

Jackson and Dorsett were charged a year later and Jackson gave a recorded confession. Though he admitted stabbing Kaiser with a knife, he denied using the cane. His lawyers contend that Dorsett, who escaped a death sentence, used the cane and was the actual killer.

According to a Virginia Supreme Court summary of the case, the medical examiner said Kaiser died from a combination of a stab wound to her jugular vein, a fractured skull and asphyxia caused by blockage of her airway. Jackson's lawyers say the evidence showed she died from asphyxia caused by the cane.

A clemency petition was sent to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine arguing that Dorsett was to blame for Kaiser's death, and, therefore, Jackson should not have been sentenced to death. They also said it was unfair that Jackson received a death sentence and Dorsett did not.

Kaine rejected the petition.

"Having carefully reviewed the petition for clemency and judicial opinions regarding this case, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was recommended by the jury and then imposed and affirmed by the courts," Kaine said in a statement released shortly after 8 p.m. "Accordingly, I decline to intervene."

Jackson's lawyers had filed 2 appeals with the U.S. Supreme Court trying to block the execution. Minutes after Kaine declined to intervene, Supreme Court issued a statement that Jackson's petitions for a stay had been denied.

Larry Traylor, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Corrections, said Jackson spent part of his last day visiting with immediate family members. He was also scheduled to meet with his spiritual adviser and lawyers.

Jackson becomes the 3rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Virginia, and the 101st overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982. Christopher Scott Emmett is scheduled to be executed July 24 for a 2001 capital murder in Danville.

Jackson becomes the 12th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1111th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.

Sources: Richmond Times-Dispatch & Rick Halperin