Bianca Jagger pointed out to us the case of Guy LeGrande. An Afro-American man, 47 years old, Guy was sentenced to death in April 1996 for the murder of Ellen Munford, which he committed on July 27th 1993. But the man is seriously mentally ill. The most recent psychiatric diagnosis asserts he suffers from “schizoaffective and bipolar disorder” and that he “has been psychotic for many years”. Indeed, it means that Guy can neither collaborate with his lawyers, nor comprehend the reality of his own situation.
Guy was enrolled by the victim’s husband, Tommy Munford, who was the planner of the murder. He took undue advantage from Guy’s mental handicap and easily swayed him to commit the crime.
Tommy Munford, a white man, after admitting his role and testifying against Guy, was sentenced to life imprisonment. LeGrande, on the contrary, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury.
His execution had been set on December 1st 2006, but some days before had been delayed, after the judge established a further enquiry on his mental health.
The verdict is expected to be issued in mid-January 2007. If negative, a new execution date might be pronounced at the end of that month. Meanwhile, Governor Mike Easley is examining an appeal calling for clemency.
The appeal to save Guy
The Community of Sant’Egidio urges everybody to share its own appeal aiming to spare Elijah’s life from the execution, sending the following statement to the Governor of South Dakota, by fax or e-mail.
Urgent appeal brought out by the Community of Sant’Egidio to save the life of Guy Tobias LeGrande, sentenced to death
Your Excellency
We join to the appeal promoted by Mrs. Bianca Jagger and
write our deep concern over a ruling that sentenced to death Mr. Guy Tobias
LeGrande, even though he is clearly affected by serious mental diseases and
he was pronounced guilty by an all-white jury.
We urge you to intervene on his behalf to prevent this
cruel and inhuman punishment from being meted out against him.
We implore you to ensure that this cruel and inhuman
sentence is not carried out.
