Editorial “Smart enough to know better?” states:
“Lester Johnson had better hope he’s dumber than he looked in his mug shot on the front page of Wednesday’s paper.
“Johnson, 31, is accused in the savage beating death of the 2-year-old daughter of his girlfriend…
“Under Pennsylvania law, convicted killers deemed to be below a certain level of intelligence cannot be executed. That goes for minors as well as adults…
“If they find that Johnson is, and he goes on to be convicted, he should be put on the fast track toward execution.”
WATCHDOG: It is amazing how every once in a while the Lancaster New Era reverts to an old and ignorant type. We consider it irresponsible for a powerful local newspaper to pressure authorities by calling for a “fast track toward execution.”
Shame on the editor(s).
