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May 26, 2015
Victims’ Families Find Comfort in Protracted Legal Battle Convicted murderer Hollis Rhoper, better known as “The the “Falsetto Killer,” has received a deathcapital sentence on Wednesday for the murder of an entire barbershop quartet early in 2013. After the sentencing, family members of the victims said they felt relieved by the prospect of a protracted legal battle that could, after at least three rounds ecadof appeals,ter a p last many years and result in a life sentence.
“We can finally have some closure knowing justice will eventually be served,” said Alana Morgenthau, wife of ex-soprano Chip Morgenthau., “I personally feel at ease knowing that the sentence will be dragged through appellate court after appellate court.”
The Dealer’s legal experts predict that at least a decade will pass beforeit will be at least a decadeor tw before Rhoper getscomes anywhere near an execution chamber.
In the meantime, the victims’ families intendexpect to rest easy, an rest easyknowing Rhoper and his legal team are contesting the sentence. They are already appealing on grounds thatof Rhoper’s alleged mental incompetence, as supposedly evidenced by his deliberate murderingact of murder. They will then appeal to higher courts, on the grounds that the execution methods employed by the state of Utah constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
“I feel consoled knowing that my brother’s killer may become a poster child for the ethical conflicts salof the death penalty,” said Ryan Lee, brother of baritone Dennis “Tubs” Lee. “I’m especially comforted by the fact that the coming legal battle is sure to be widely publicized. It’s just what Tubs would have wanted.”M“this starts to get a little too chatty for my taste,” says charming young brown copyeditor.
“That bad man is gonna get what he deserves. Thisnd this isn’t just about retribution or closure, this is about setting an example,” said Mark Smith, son of alto Felix “Goldenthroat” Smith. “It will set an example. so that Aanyone rationally considering a violent crime should think twice, because it may land them in a twenty-year wait for execution while the flawed broken criminal justice system convinces itself beyond any doubt that he is both guilty and deserving of death.”
Carson Putoxi, estranged cousin of tenor Shadwell “Lost In Your Eyes” Putoxi, said she was “certain“ justice had been served. “AJust as it has for 4000 years, the death penalty will serve to deter criminals from wrongdoing, and help put an end to senseless violence once and for all.”that, “After 4000 years of deterrence by means of the death penalty, 4000 years of punishing crimes with death, this ought to be the one that really discourages people from wrongdoing and puts an end to senseless violence once and for all!”
