Reasons for Death Penalty

I recently read, with more than the usual enthusiasm, your recent article regarding the status of capital punishment in California with the change in status of the new Supreme Court (Nov. 8).

I was extremely interested in the response by the advocates who oppose capital punishment, especially that quoted by Michael P. Giannini, Orange County assistant public defender. I am not one of the stronger advocates of capital punishment but do agree that there are certain times when it seems to be the only logical conclusion.

One of the cases quoted by Giannini was one in which I was intimately involved. And I disagree vehemently with his point of view.

At that time, I was co-director of the trauma center at Mission Community Hospital and was the trauma surgeon on call the day Vanessa Iberri was brought in. Vanessa and her friend, Kelly Cartier, were walking along the road at Caspers Park when, according to witnesses, the defendant, Thomas F. Edwards, shot both young girls in the head. Vanessa was transported to Mission Community Hospital trauma center and was found to be brain dead. Fortunately, Kelly was able to survive.

Being the trauma surgeon on call, part of my responsibility was to discuss with the family the medical findings regarding Vanessa. Vanessa’s mother and grandmother were taken to a small chapel area. They had absolutely no idea what trauma Vanessa had sustained. I explained to them that Vanessa had been shot in the head and her brain had ceased to function, that there was no hope.

Explaining this under any circumstance is extremely difficult, certainly to the mother and grandmother of a 12-year-old girl whose only crime was to take a walk away from the camp site along the road. The grandmother jumped from her seat and began trying to strangle me, shouting that this must be some kind of a joke and that I must be insane.

I understood and identified with her reaction. This was one of the more difficult confrontations of my medical career, one that will be an everlasting memory. Because of confrontations such as this, I no longer do trauma care in south Orange County.

Edwards has not only admitted what he has done but also stated on numerous occasions that he thinks the only fair punishment is capital punishment. Here you have a person who obviously waited for these girls, shot them in the head at point-blank range. Not only was he identified by one of the victims as well as several others, but he has admitted his guilt completely and desires capital punishment.

Yet Giannini states that Edwards is able to be rehabilitated and that capital punishment is too severe a sentence for him.

I wonder what Giannini’s views would be if Vanessa Iberri were one of his children.

I commend your article regarding capital punishment and agree with millions of other Californians who feel that there are times when capital punishment is a just punishment for a specific crime.

KENNETH B. DECK

Mission Viejo