Execution for a Sexually Abused Man

On September 14, 2012 John Rudolph reported that a man, named Terry Williams, is sentenced to die for murdering his sexual abuser, in the article “Terry Williams Execution: Man Who Killed Alleged Sexual Abuser Scheduled To Die Next Month” from The Huffington Post. Fifteen years ago Terry Williams killed chemist and church volunteer Amos Norwood, a man who sexually abused him and other teenage boys. His body was found stabbed in a room entirely scattered with nude photographs of teenage boys. Williams was charged with third degree murder and arrested, which shocked the entire city since he was popular, talented, and an academically gifted student. His lawyers want his sentence to be reduced to life in sentence without a possible parole since his he had a traumatic and violent childhood, but Philadelphia prosecutors are firmly pushing for his execution. In this case, there is no question that Norwood was the only guilty person because he has tried to have sex with other teenage boys also. Not only did he pay thirteen-year-old Williams to have sex with him, but also inappropriately touched a number of other boys at church.

            Terry Williams’s execution is scheduled on October 3, in Pennsylvania. Norwood’s wife, Mamie Norwood has pleaded mercy for Williams, which makes proof that she blames her husband and takes Williams’s side. It is extremely unfair that a man, who was sexually abused, is sentenced for this unjust punishment. Executive director of an anti-death penalty group in Atlanta stated, “If any state should know what sexual trauma does to somebody, it's Pennsylvania. And this is the person that gets executed?” (The Huffington Post).