Curtis Osborne (March 1970 – June 4, 2008)[1][2] was an American convicted murderer on death row in Georgia from Spalding County.[3] He murdered Arthur Lee Jones and Linda Lisa Seaborne in 1990 to avoid paying a $400 debt.[3] Johnny Mostiler, his court-appointed attorney, allegedly neglected to inform Osborne that the prosecutor had offered him a life sentence in exchange for a plea bargain, declaring "That little nigger deserves the death penalty."[4][5][6][7] Osborne's case for clemency was championed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Larry Thompson, who wrote letters to the clemency board pleading for mercy.[8] Former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell also spoke on his behalf.[8] His execution was carried out despite these appeals.[9][10]
Curtis Osborne | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1970 Spalding County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | June 4, 2008 (aged 38) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | Malice murder (two counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Death (August 15, 1991) |
| Details | |
| Victims | Arthur Lee Jones Linda Lisa Seaborne |
| Date | August 7, 1990 |
Murders
editOn August 7, 1990, the bodies of Arthur Lee Jones and Linda Lisa Seaborne were found in an abandoned car on a dirt road in Spalding County, Georgia. Both victims had been shot in the head, with Jones sustaining a gunshot wound just below his left eye and Seaborne sustaining a gunshot wound to her neck. Three weeks before the murders, Jones had asked Osborne, his sister's boyfriend, to help him sell a motorcycle. Osborne had sold the motorcycle for US$400 and kept the money. Osborne was interviewed by authorities and eventually admitted to the crime. He claimed, however, that Jones had reached towards the floor for a weapon, and he had acted in self-defense. However, evidence from the crime scene showed Jones had been sitting upright when Osborne shot him and that the gun was only an inch away from his skull.[11] Osborne's mother later testified that her husband's .357 Ruger was missing, a gun which was already suspected as the murder weapon. The gun was never recovered.[12][13]
Trial
editIn October 1990, Osborne was indicted on two counts of malice murder and two counts of felony murder.[13] Prosecutors alleged Osborne murdered Jones after he was confronted about the money from the motorcycle sale. Jones had demanded Osborne give him the US$400, and Osborne had killed him in retaliation, as well as Seaborne because she was a witness.[8] On August 14, 1991, a jury found Osborne guilty, and he was sentenced to death the following day.[12]
Execution
editOn June 4, 2008, Osborne was executed via lethal injection. He refused any special last meal and made no final statement.[14] He had initially been scheduled for execution at around 7:00 p.m., however, the execution was delayed when the executioners took over thirty-five minutes to find a suitable vein they could use to administer the lethal drugs.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Inmates Under Death Sentence January 1, 2008" (PDF). Georgia Department of Corrections. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Curtis Osborne #1103". Clark County Prosecutor. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Execution set for double murderer". United Press International. 2008-05-27.
- ^ Berlow, Alan (2008-06-03). "Lose That Lawyer: Do defendants in Georgia have any right at all to competent representation?". Slate.
- ^ Sessions, William S. (2008-06-03). "Death Penalty: Osborne sentence a stain on justice". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
- ^ Von Drehle, David (2008-06-02). "If Your Lawyer Wants You Executed". Time.
- ^ Cook, Rhonda (2008-06-03). "Execution set for today, despite questionable defense". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Georgia murderer executed". United Press International. 2008-06-04.
- ^ "Georgia puts double murderer to death; 2nd execution for the state within the last month". Associated Press. 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008.
- ^ Cook, Rhonda (2008-06-05). "Executioners had trouble putting murderer to death: For 35 minutes, they couldn't find good vein for lethal injection". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Osborne v. State". Justia. June 21, 1993. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Execution Date Set for Curtis Osborne in Spalding County Double Murder". law.georgia.gov. May 27, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Osborne v. Terry". FindLaw. October 16, 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Georgia executes man who killed 2 in 1990". AccessWDUN. June 4, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
| Preceded by Kevin Green |
People executed in US after Baze v. Rees ruling | Succeeded by David Mark Hill |