'Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth': Opinion

“Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” The abbreviation of the Book of Exodus 21:24 is a favorite for those who support the death penalty. So much so, that the verse regularly even gets recited by those trying to justify their own participation in executions. The logic of course is that if you kill someone then you deserve to be killed. On the inverse, the logic is that if you don’t kill someone then you don’t deserve to be killed. Pretty basic stuff, right?

The State of Oklahoma seems to literally live and die by such logic. But what if I told you that there is someone scheduled for execution who quite possibly has taken no eyes or no teeth? In fact, even prosecutors remain admittedly unsure if whether the person they’re trying to execute actually killed anyone or not.

Though tragic, the events that transpired are rather simple. Emmanuel Littlejohn and Glenn Bethany were desperate to continue funding out of control drug habits. Realizing that the Root-N-Scoot convenience store had a check cashing component, the two guys decided that it was the perfect hit to score a bunch of cash. So, on June 19, 1992, they proceeded to rob the business on the Southside of Oklahoma City.

Upon entering the store, they turned their guns on the clerk at the desk. From the back, store owner Kenneth Meers charged at them with a broom. Witnesses across the street described the taller shoplifter as having fired the fatal shot that killed Meers. The taller man was Glenn Bethany. Regardless of whether one believes such eyewitnesses or not, a few things are clear… There was only one shot fired. There was only one shooter.

For his part, Glenn Bethany was convicted of the murder of Kenneth Meers and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

At trial, prosecutors argued that Bethany was the shooter. Later, prosecutors tried Emmanuel Littlejohn twice and argued that he was the shooter each time. Again, prosecutors said that there was only one shooter, yet they tried two people for being that one shooter. Littlejohn was also convicted of the murder of Kenneth Meers. Yet, prosecutors convinced a jury to sentence Littlejohn to death.

How is it possible that there is one shooter and two people were convicted of being that one shooter and one gets life and the other gets death? Shouldn’t the fundamental principle of “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” apply? It would seem that you can’t start taking eyes and teeth from people who have taken no eyes or teeth.

There was only one shooter. In both trials prosecutors argued that that man was the shooter. Yet, there was only one shooter. The death penalty should have never even been an option for either man in such circumstances. How in the world could anyone know that they are taking the right eyes or teeth in such a situation?

While Glenn Bethany still sits in prison, Emmanuel Littlejohn is scheduled to be executed September 26. Shouldn’t basic fairness be the fundamental principle that guides our justice system? What is fair about executing someone who very possibly has never killed anyone? Multiple courts have agreed that the evidence is uncertain. But such courts have also said that Littlejohn’s involvement is enough to warrant a death sentence. I guess they’ve never heard of an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”

Societies that self-righteously claim to be following God’s law while doing the opposite are at the apex of hypocrisy. I don’t believe that Emmanuel Littlejohn killed Kenneth Meers. But such belief shouldn’t matter. We are told that the death penalty is for the “worst of the worst.” Yet, Oklahoma is about to execute someone that prosecutors themselves argued wasn’t the actual shooter (in Bethany’s trial).

Courts have repeatedly questioned the evidence. Littlejohn doesn’t need your sympathy. He simply needs you to live by your oft-stated mantra, “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” Under such words, one has to be certain someone took some eyes or teeth. In this case, there is no way you can be. Those most closely connected to this case still aren’t.

If the State of Oklahoma kills Emmanuel Littlejohn on September 26, the thing that the State should be honest about is that it really doesn’t believe in an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” There are too many remaining questions to justify the taking of any “eyes or teeth” from Emmanuel Littlejohn. But if you kill him and he didn’t actually kill Mr. Meers, I guess it will be time to start coming for your “eyes and teeth” next.

Source: mcalesternews.com, Jeff Hood, July 20, 2024. The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood is the Spiritual Advisor to Emmanuel Littlejohn, the next Oklahoma inmate awaiting execution.

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