R.I.P. Jerry Terrell Jackson

Roman Colosseum lit to protest an execution

On August 18, 2011, Virginia executed Jerry Terrell Jackson, who was convicted of the murder, rape and robbery of Ruth Phillips, an 88-year old woman.  Challenges to Jackson's execution focused on his trial lawyer's inadequate representation, which resulted in the jurors who determined whether Jackson should live or die never learning the details of the “depraved, daily and sadistic abuse” he suffered throughout his childhood.

This is the 32nd execution in the United States in 2011, the first in Virginia.