Jaime Gandara, Renteria's lawyer said he did not think he clearly conveyed to the jury what the death penalty means and what it's for.

"It's clear under Texas law the death penalty is for somebody who poses a threat to society in the future," he said. "There was no evidence David Renteria was ever going to be out of prison, and out of a maximum security unit in prison."

He said the death penalty is a way in which people can express hatred and revenge.

"It's about getting even and about the satisfaction you feel watching somebody die because they offended you," Gandara said.

District Attorney Jaime Esparza said it's not about that at all.

"By their verdict, the jury tells us it's important to protect our community and it's important to send a message to the community that we will not tolerate this type of crime," he said.

"This is one of those rare cases that the circumstances are aggravated enough, the crime is heinous and this case is definitely a death-penalty case. There's no question in my mind the appropriate sentence is the death penalty and the jury did the right thing."


Details.

[Thank you, Jaime Esparza, for speaking for victims.]

Mr. Gandara is being too hard on himself. It wasn't his choice of words that caused the jury to impose a death sentence on his client. It was the facts that 12 men and women heard and considered before delivering their verdict. Those people believed that the defendant, as shown by his words and deeds, constituted a continuing threat to society. (And BTW, no capital offender automatically goes to, or stays in, Ag Seg. They remain in GP unless that commit a violation, and even then, they must be released back to GP at some time.)

What Mr. Gandara, and others like him, fail to appreciate is the fact that the death penalty is not about hatred and vengence. It's about justice. Justice for the victim who paid the ultimate price, the victim's family which suffers a permanent loss, and society which has a right and duty to protect its own. Jaime's comments were right on point.

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"He said the death penalty is a way in which people can express hatred and revenge."

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If you think the death penalty is too harsh given the possibility of executing an innocent person then compare that to the likelihood of errors in vigilante mob-justice. Hatred and revenge are natural human sentiments that will be expressed, sometimes violently.

The criminal justice system offers victims and society an orderly and methodical violence. It strives for fairness and presumes innocence. Restricting available punishments will increase the rate of messy vigilantism.