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#Post#: 584--------------------------------------------------
~ Louis Gaskin, 12Apr23, (FL) ~
DIR By: BuzzC
Date: March 13, 2023, 11:35 pm
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DeSantis sets execution for ‘ninja killer’ in 1989 murders--
Monday, March 13th, 2023
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A man convicted of a 1989 double slaying
in Florida for which he was dubbed the “ninja killer” is set for
execution next month under a death warrant signed Monday by
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Barring delays on appeal, the execution of Louis Bernard Gaskin
is set for April 12 at 6 p.m., according to the governor's
office. It would mark the second execution in Florida this year
after a long pause dating back to 2019.
The execution would be only the fourth under DeSantis, a far
slower pace than recent Florida governors — and ahead of his
widely expected presidential campaign.
Gaskin was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Robert
Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, on Dec. 20, 1989 in
their Flagler County home on Florida's northeast coast. He was
also convicted of armed robbery, burglary and the attempted
murder of another couple that same night nearby.
He was dubbed the “ninja killer” because he wore all-black ninja
clothing during the crimes. Gaskin shot his victims with a
.22-caliber rifle, investigators say. Property that he stole
from the Sturmfels' home — a clock, two lamps and a
videocassette recorder — was found at his residence and were
intended to be Christmas gifts for his girlfriend.
Local media reported at the time that Gaskin quickly confessed
to the crimes and told a psychologist before his trial that he
knew what he was doing.
“The guilt was always there,” Gaskin told him. “The devil had
more of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasn’t
insane.”
Jurors voted 8-4 in 1990 to recommend the death sentence, which
the judge accepted. Florida law now requires a unanimous jury
vote for capital punishment, although that could be changed this
year by the state Legislature.
Gaskin, now 56, has filed numerous appeals over the years but by
2020 both the Florida Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court had
cleared the way for his death warrant to be signed, Attorney
General Ashley Moody said in court documents.
The state Supreme Court set a briefing schedule for all filings
in any new Gaskin appeals to be completed by March 31.
8)
#Post#: 588--------------------------------------------------
Re: ~ Louis Gaskin, 12Apr23, (FL) ~
DIR By: BuzzC
Date: April 12, 2023, 6:09 pm
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Florida executes 'ninja killer' for couple's 1989 death--
Wednesday, April 12th, 2023
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — Florida executed a man known as the “ninja
killer” on Wednesday for the 1989 slayings of a couple visiting
the state from New Jersey.
Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. after
receiving a lethal injection, the governor’s office said. He was
convicted of killing Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette
Sturmfels, 55, on Dec. 20, 1989, in their Flagler County winter
home on Florida’s northeastern coast.
Gaskin woke up at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday and had his last meal at
9:45 a.m., Department of Corrections spokesperson Kayla
McLaughlin Smith said during a news conference. The meal
included BBQ pork ribs, pork and turkey neck, Buffalo wings,
shrimp fried rice, french fries and water.
Gaskin was visited by his sister Wednesday, but he did not meet
with a spiritual adviser, McLaughlin Smith said. No relatives of
the victims had arranged to be in the witness room during the
execution, which was scheduled for 6 p.m. and started without
delay.
When asked if he had any final statement, Gaskin said: “Justice
is not about the crime. It’s not about the criminal. It’s about
the law.”
He then referred to the legal proceedings surrounding his case
and the appeals and finished his statement saying, “Look at my
case.”
Gaskin began receiving the lethal cocktail of drugs at 6:02
p.m., causing him to breathe heavily as his chest rose and fell
under a white sheet. The prison’s warden went to check on
whether Gaskin was still conscious at 6:05 p.m. He didn’t
respond. Gaskin’s breathing appeared to stop at 6:07 p.m. A
doctor entered the death chamber at 6:14 p.m. to examine Gaskin
and declared him dead a minute later.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has been signing death warrants at
a rapid pace this year as he prepares his widely expected
presidential campaign. He oversaw only two executions in his
first four years in office, both in 2019.
Gaskin's execution came six weeks after Donald Dillbeck, 59, was
put to death for the 1990 murder of Faye Vann, 44, in
Tallahassee, and three weeks before the scheduled execution of
Darryl B. Barwick for slaying Rebecca Wendt, 24, in 1986 in
Panama City.
Barring any stays for Barwick, it will be the shortest period
that three executions have been carried out in Florida since
three were put to death within 36 days in 2014 under former Gov.
Rick Scott, also a Republican.
Gaskin’s death marked the state’s 100th execution since the
reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. There are an
additional 297 people on Florida’s death row, which is located
at Florida State Prison, about 40 miles (65 kilometers)
southwest of Jacksonville.
Gaskin, who was dubbed the “ninja killer” because he wore
all-black ninja clothing during the crimes, shot his victims
with a .22-caliber rifle, investigators said. He was convicted
of first-degree murder.
Property that he stole from the Sturmfels’ home — a clock, two
lamps and a videocassette recorder — was found at his residence
and were intended to be Christmas gifts for his girlfriend,
according to investigators. He was also convicted of armed
robbery, burglary and the attempted murder that same night of
another couple who lived nearby.
Local media reported at the time that Gaskin quickly confessed
to the crimes and told a psychologist before his trial that he
knew what he was doing.
“The guilt was always there,” Gaskin said. “The devil had more
of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasn’t
insane.”
Jurors voted 8-4 in 1990 to recommend the death sentence, which
the judge accepted. Florida law now requires a unanimous jury
vote for capital punishment, although the Legislature could send
DeSantis a bill this week that would allow 8-4 jury
recommendations for capital punishment.
The state and U.S. supreme courts rejected appeals Gaskin filed
since his death warrant was signed. The latest denial came
Tuesday.
8)
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