Dateline - Susan Smith episode

[tvguy]

She should serve her full sentence, Life.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Thats a big negatory

 

[barkley]

no, and as for her/her attorney's claims of her rehabilitation and remorse I strongly question those on the basis that she was disciplined AGAIN about 10 weeks before her parole hearing b/c she was caught using the phone and a tablet to sell interviews. she had already had money deposited to her prison account by some media outlet and was negotiating payments for further interviews and a documentary.

 

[SC Minnie]

No. This happened not to far from where I live. DD was a few months old at the time so it was very close to me.

No. She shouldn't be paroled. To quote David Smith- You don't kill your children.

 

[mom2rtk]

Did not see it.

NO.

Don't need to see it.

HELL NO.

I was pregnant and had a toddler when this happened. It's imprinted on my brain. What an awful story. Wasn't the least bit surprised she did it. Was counting the days until it was revealed.

 

[cabanafrau]

Haven't seen it, but I had seen news reports about her behavior while incarcerated. Let's just say it doesn't seem like remorse is anywhere near top of mind for her. That tells me she is incorrigible and cannot be rehabilitated. To me an individual with that prognosis is a grave threat to society at large. We're not talking a propensity to knock off a liquor store. This woman cold bloodedly disposed of her own children as if they were no more than used tissue. She needs to remain behind bars until she leaves in a body bag.

 

[HopperFan]

no, and as for her/her attorney's claims of her rehabilitation and remorse I strongly question those on the basis that she was disciplined AGAIN about 10 weeks before her parole hearing b/c she was caught using the phone and a tablet to sell interviews. she had already had money deposited to her prison account by some media outlet and was negotiating payments for further interviews and a documentary.

Aside from all the obvious reasons why she should not be let out, mostly parole should never have been an option to begin with ...

What will she do when she gets out? Who will rent to her? Who will want to let her live with them? Who with children will let her anywhere near them? Who will hire her? How will she support herself? And as far as interviews as a money potential I thought you couldn't make money on your crimes?

 

[mylilnikita]

She could have easily told David, I want to be free to be with this guy and he doesn’t want kids so you take the kids.
But she went a different way. Those poor precious little boys.

 

[HopperFan]

She could have easily told David, I want to be free to be with this guy and he doesn’t want kids so you take the kids.
But she went a different way. Those poor precious little boys.

THIS^ She should have just left the marriage and children. But she decided premeditated murder of innocent children was the best way. They didn't get to live their lives, she shouldn't get to live free.

 

[barkley]

Aside from all the obvious reasons why she should not be let out, mostly parole should never have been an option to begin with ...

What will she do when she gets out? Who will rent to her? Who will want to let her live with them? Who with children will let her anywhere near them? Who will hire her? How will she support herself? And as far as interviews as a money potential I thought you couldn't make money on your crimes?

her attorney says she would pursue a career in 'counseling' (spec. women who deal with similar issues to own) . is this the go-to profession for coldblooded killers cuz I believe this is what the menendez brothers have said they plan to do

 

[mylilnikita]

her attorney says she would pursue a career in 'counseling' (spec. women who deal with similar issues to own) . is this the go-to profession for coldblooded killers cuz I believe this is what the menendez brothers have said they plan to do

Similar issues ? What would the class be called” how to premeditate the death of kids and say someone else did it, then fake cry”
? Is Casey Anthony going to be a co counselor with her, since Diane Downs wouldn’t be available?

 

[elgerber]

I recorded it, but haven't watched yet. I was trying to decide if I should. That case slayed me like no other, back when it happened. But NO, she should never be free. Not ever.

 

[SC Minnie]

her attorney says she would pursue a career in 'counseling' (spec. women who deal with similar issues to own) . is this the go-to profession for coldblooded killers cuz I believe this is what the menendez brothers have said they plan to do

Her attorney said she would move in with her brother that still lives in Union. That is a very small town- less than 8000 people. Not sure how many clients she would have. If there's more than 1 like her in 8000 people they are in trouble.

 

[barkley]

Her attorney said she would move in with her brother that still lives in Union. That is a very small town- less than 8000 people. Not sure how many clients she would have. If there's more than 1 like her in 8000 people they are in trouble.

if there's ever a remote chance of her release I suspect she's aready taking notes on how gypsy rose blanchard coordinated cascading paydays that began production pre-release. at a bare minimum I would expect her to use one of the lonely hearts she's draining for money as a vehicle for a season on 'love after lockup'

since Diane Downs wouldn’t be available?

god help us if she's successful but....she's filed a new appeal (November 2024)-

Court documents allege that Downs is now seeking post-conviction relief on the grounds of the Sixth Amendment and has a legal right to have the attempted murder and assault counts reversed in her case.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently reversed the practice of imprisoning U.S. Citizens by reason of nonunanimous jury verdicts in 2020 through Ramos v. Louisiana where a man convicted of a serious crime in a Louisiana court was found guilty by a 10-to-2 jury verdict. Whereas a mistrial would have been received almost anywhere else, the man was sentenced to life without parole. He contested that the conviction was an "unconstitutional denial of the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial," according to court documents.

Downs claims after the Ramos decision was handed down, the Oregon Supreme Court decided a new trial would be required to cure constitutional errors in Oregon cases affected by nonunanimous jury verdicts. In the petition, she cited multiple court cases to support this stance.

"It's long been held the government is required to prove its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt," Downs said in the petition. "In petitioner's case, the State failed to prove its case to two jurors on four of the five charges against the accused."

 

[cabanafrau]

if there's ever a remote chance of her release I suspect she's aready taking notes on how gypsy rose blanchard coordinated cascading paydays that began production pre-release. at a bare minimum I would expect her to use one of the lonely hearts she's draining for money as a vehicle for a season on 'love after lockup'




god help us if she's successful but....she's filed a new appeal (November 2024)-

Court documents allege that Downs is now seeking post-conviction relief on the grounds of the Sixth Amendment and has a legal right to have the attempted murder and assault counts reversed in her case.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently reversed the practice of imprisoning U.S. Citizens by reason of nonunanimous jury verdicts in 2020 through Ramos v. Louisiana where a man convicted of a serious crime in a Louisiana court was found guilty by a 10-to-2 jury verdict. Whereas a mistrial would have been received almost anywhere else, the man was sentenced to life without parole. He contested that the conviction was an "unconstitutional denial of the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial," according to court documents.

Downs claims after the Ramos decision was handed down, the Oregon Supreme Court decided a new trial would be required to cure constitutional errors in Oregon cases affected by nonunanimous jury verdicts. In the petition, she cited multiple court cases to support this stance.

"It's long been held the government is required to prove its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt," Downs said in the petition. "In petitioner's case, the State failed to prove its case to two jurors on four of the five charges against the accused."

I've only heard the name Gypsy Rose Blanchard and have never really paid attention to what exactly her story is, but I'm guessing she's probably not my cup of tea and won't get my sympathy.

Not a lawyer, but I'm not grasping the contention that a non-unanimous jury verdict equates to denial of the Sixth Amendment right to trial. However, if there is legal precedence for the position it's probably highly likely a new trial would be granted. I am surprised to see that a non-unanimous verdict was enough to sustain a conviction. I didn't realize that was the case anywhere in the US.

 

[Deb]

absolutely not

 

[lisaviolet]

Her attorney said she would move in with her brother that still lives in Union. That is a very small town- less than 8000 people. Not sure how many clients she would have. If there's more than 1 like her in 8000 people they are in trouble.

I thought that little tidbit shows how delusional she remains. Who the heck would even want to go back that town, with what you did? You would think if she was released she would want a life far far away.

I also found it bizarre, and I don't remember it at the time, that both of them were cheating on each other. And the bizarre & sad part of that was David's girlfriend? mistress? (now wife, not sure if him & Susan were openly separated back then, it was a bit unclear in the Dateline episode) followed Susan around town trying to catch her cheating . And she has been following her that exact day, took a short break & when she went back she could not find Susan. Sigh. I don't understand you're cheating, trying to find another cheating. And if they were openly separated who cares. But to think his now wife was that close to being able to stop the deaths. Sad. So sad.

Susan's description of supposedly going to do it with her in the car, stopping, trying again, stopping again & then letting the truck go made me want to throw up. Just the thought. And of course the possibility that it is just more lies.

No, she should never ever be let out. And besides my thoughts on it in general I also do not agree with the lawyer that stated she is no longer a threat.

Oh and I was very surprised at myself but I felt I don't know what the word is - totally supportive? of David openly saying he sat in court trying to figure out how it get to Susan to kill her, before a bailiff or guard could get to him to stop it.

 

[brockash]

I thought that little tidbit shows how delusional she remains. Who the heck would even want to go back that town, with what you did? You would think if she was released she would want a life far far away.

I also found it bizarre, and I don't remember it at the time, that both of them were cheating on each other. And the bizarre & sad part of that was David's girlfriend? mistress? (now wife, not sure if him & Susan were openly separated back then, it was a bit unclear in the Dateline episode) followed Susan around town trying to catch her cheating . And she has been following her that exact day, took a short break & when she went back she could not find Susan. Sigh. I don't understand you're cheating, trying to find another cheating. And if they were openly separated who cares. But to think his now wife was that close to being able to stop the deaths. Sad. So sad.

Susan's description of supposedly going to do it with her in the car, stopping, trying again, stopping again & then letting the truck go made me want to throw up. Just the thought. And of course the possibility that it is just more lies.

No, she should never ever be let out. And besides my thoughts on it in general I also do not agree with the lawyer that stated she is no longer a threat.

Oh and I was very surprised at myself but I felt I don't know what the word is - totally supportive? of David openly saying he sat in court trying to figure out how it get to Susan to kill her, before a bailiff or guard could get to him to stop it.

Yes, this. I think it just showed how bizarre and tacky both of their lives were. Both cheating on the other and him getting together with/cheating on her with her friend??? and then that friend goes and follows her around town trying to catch her cheating? - Very sad and pathetic all the way around...those poor boys. Who knows how crazy their lives really were. The friend/new wife seems so ick. It was really hard for me to find any likeable quality out of any of them on the special, other than those innocent boys.

 

[barkley]

. Sigh. I don't understand you're cheating, trying to find another cheating.

at her trial it was revealed that in addition to the 'rich' guy susan was seeing at the time of the murders (that most feel was the motive) she for many months and as recently as 2 months prior had also been engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with her stepfather (who had molested her as a teen). I kind of wonder if her former husband was trying to gather evidence on this for a custody battle (it sounded like the marriage was already over as far as both were concerned).

 

[lisaviolet]

at her trial it was revealed that in addition to the 'rich' guy susan was seeing at the time of the murders (that most feel was the motive) she for many months and as recently as 2 months prior had also been engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with her stepfather (who had molested her as a teen). I kind of wonder if her former husband was trying to gather evidence on this for a custody battle (it sounded like the marriage was already over as far as both were concerned).

Yes, you're right. Now that I remember David's now wife did say she was gathering information for custody purposes. But still seems bizarre in general given their circumstances & very sad she was that close to unwittingly stopping their murder.