Here's the SF Gate article
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/14/BAQS198PDH.DTL
in which Nathaniel Burris kept interrupting the judge saying "I did it ... Just give me the death penalty,"
Which brings up all sorts of observations the first is that you are guaranteed the right to a fair trial - whether you want it or not. Now you can screw it up by representing yourself as he seems to intend to but I get you this ain't gonna last.
This guy is obviously not stable (the family of the victim didn't think he was even before this happened) and most certainly deserves to be put on trial and have the rule of law work out to whatever it's going to be.
But I'm really struck by the I want to live / I want to die mixed messages.
- he ran - for hours - yet didn't really try to evade the police
- he did not shoot himself, yet he currently says he wants to be executed. He lives in Richmond. Point a gun at a gang banger if you don't believe in suicide, they'll be happy to take care of you.
This story has just started to come out.
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