You're right, Law, my post was an awfully garbled mess--I must have been asleep when I wrote it. From now on, I promise to save any reply I write after 2 am until the next day before posting it.

I am not disagreeing, I stated that an agreement is an agreement. Mexico is simply asking that agreement be honored. I cannot see a problem with that at all.

Worst about this case is that Ernesto Reyes is 'alleged' to have murdered this young woman. Now, what if he is actually innocent? Authorities clearly have evidence to request extradition, but what if he is not the murderer? That would mean another person is literally getting away with murder. What if this crime was committed in a State where there is no death penalty? Would the Mexicans turn him over to US authorities?

Of course countries should protect their citizens abroad, but if that citizen has committed crimes, surely they should not go unpunished.

Obviously the situation in the USA is very different from Australia. We have the luxury of having no international border crossings. However, extradition orders apply from state to state. The only time I have ever known an extradition warrant to be turned down is if the offender is facing more serious crimes in another state.

Personally I find the US/Mexico agreement silly, when so many cross the border each day. Texas is a BIG state and does have a death penalty.

Does the US routinely extradite Mexicans wanted for serious crime in Mexico, even if they are in the US legally?

Saddest is this young woman's life, and the bringing to justice her killer, has turned into a political argument.

I was always totally opposed to the death penalty, but some years ago my position changed. I realized that there were some people (not many, but some) whose actions render them unworthy to continue to live in our society.


People like Richard Allen Davis, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacey, etc.

I agree that the death penalty should be applied sparingly, and only when there is certainty of guilt, however I'd consider that the bodies of victims buried in the accused's home, or his DNA found on the victim, when linked with other evidence, is as good as an eyewitness.

I often feel conflicted about it, as you do, because I think it's wrong to take human life, but when I think about the crimes these people have committed, the horror and tragedy they bring to the innocent families of their victims, and the brutality of their acts, my thought is "just get them out of here."

Are you suggesting Reyes could not get a fair trial in the United States?


Indeed, which is why O.J. Simpson has vowed to spend the rest of his life searching for the REAL murderer(s) of Nicolle Simpson and Ron White...

...on every golf course in Florida.


I believe that has been the custom in the past.


Sounds logical. I can certainly agree with that.


I would guess we do as a matter of course. A better question, in my mind, would be do we extradite American citizens who are accused of serious crimes in Mexico? That I don't know, and am too lazy to google. Someone else take over, here.

Ron Goldman, just to set the record straight. Ron White is the comedian with the cigar.

And it may be possible that the real killers are golfers. Who knows?

The extradition treaty between the US and Mexico, signed by Jimmy Carter in 1978, to take effect in 1980, states:

Neither side is bound to deliver up its nationals, however if extradition is denied based on nationality, the request for extradition is automatically converted into a foreign prosecution pursuant to Article IV of the Mexican Federal Penal Code (hereinafter, “Article IV”). Although by law, the Mexican authorities are authorized to extradite their nationals in “exceptional circumstances”, in practice they most often do not.

This has always been my concern in regards to capital punishment, i.e. certainty of guilt over and beyond a reasonable doubt, assuming the Criminal Justice System is functioning correctly. Even if someone is an habitual offender, I don't feel it'd be right to execute them other than based on the offense for which they were considered for the death penalty. Otherwise, I'd say our penal code needs to be very carefully revamped, and that strict adherence be paid to it.

I can't even vaguely imagine the angst of anyone who's been wrongly accused, even if they had other legal history, let alone someone who hadn't. I used to be dead set against capital punishment, because I didn't feel killing was right for any reason. However, I too have changed my mind a bit and now my reason for doubt is only because of perceived serious flaws in the mechanics of our system. I know there are folks who have rightfully been sentenced to execution, but as a citizen of this country, I would want to know that all avenues of investigation have been exhausted. If I were wrongly accused, I sure as hell would want those safties in place.

Alleged? There is video tape of this man dragging her body and putting her on fire; there is video tape of her talking with him at the convenience store; video tape of his buying gasoline. Please...he deserves just what he gave Melanie and worse. I never beleived in the death penalty before but I must say when there is enough evidence AND two people in HIS life have testified that it was him in the videos and that he said he had done it, it should be done! Then he runs back home to Mexico and now he can't be given the death penalty. Where is the justice for Melanie? For her family? For her friends? All these lives have been changed and will never be the same due to this animal's actions.