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Curtis Osborne
American murderer (1970–2008) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Curtis Osborne (March 1970 – June 4, 2008)[1][2] was an American convicted murderer on death row in Georgia from Spalding County.[3] He murdered Arthur Lee Jones and Linda Lisa Seaborne in 1990 to avoid paying a $400 debt.[3] Johnny Mostiler, his court-appointed attorney, allegedly neglected to inform Osborne that the prosecutor had offered him a life sentence in exchange for a plea bargain, declaring "That little nigger deserves the death penalty."[4][5][6][7] Osborne's case for clemency was championed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Larry Thompson, who wrote letters to the clemency board pleading for mercy.[8] Former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell also spoke on his behalf.[8] His execution was carried out despite these appeals.[9][10]
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Murders
On August 7, 1990, the bodies of Arthur Lee Jones and Linda Lisa Seaborne were found in an abandoned car on a dirt road in Spalding County, Georgia. Both victims had been shot in the head, with Jones sustaining a gunshot wound just below his left eye and Seaborne sustaining a gunshot wound to her neck. Three weeks before the murders, Jones had asked Osborne, his sister's boyfriend, to help him sell a motorcycle. Osborne had sold the motorcycle for US$400 and kept the money. Osborne was interviewed by authorities and eventually admitted to the crime. He claimed, however, that Jones had reached towards the floor for a weapon, and he had acted in self-defense. However, evidence from the crime scene showed Jones had been sitting upright when Osborne shot him and that the gun was only an inch away from his skull.[11] Osborne's mother later testified that her husband's .357 Ruger was missing, a gun which was already suspected as the murder weapon. The gun was never recovered.[12][13]
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Trial
In October 1990, Osborne was indicted on two counts of malice murder and two counts of felony murder.[13] Prosecutors alleged Osborne murdered Jones after he was confronted about the money from the motorcycle sale. Jones had demanded Osborne give him the US$400, and Osborne had killed him in retaliation, as well as Seaborne because she was a witness.[8] On August 14, 1991, a jury found Osborne guilty, and he was sentenced to death the following day.[12]
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Execution
On June 4, 2008, Osborne was executed via lethal injection. He refused any special last meal and made no final statement.[14] He had initially been scheduled for execution at around 7:00 p.m., however, the execution was delayed when the executioners took over thirty-five minutes to find a suitable vein they could use to administer the lethal drugs.[8]
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References
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