Oklahoma man pleads in slaying of Australian baseball player

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Oklahoma man pleads in slaying of Australian baseball player
| March 24, 2015 | Updated: March 24, 2015 6:15pm

DUNCAN, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday in the shooting death of a college baseball player from Australia.

The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/1DV6xSK ) reports that 19-year-old Michael DeWayne Jones was sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the killing of Christopher Lane in 2013. He will be eligible for parole in 36 years.

Prosecutors say Jones was driving when a friend in his car fired the shot that killed Lane, who was out jogging in the city of Duncan, about 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. As part of the plea deal, Jones will not testify against his friend, Chancey Allen Luna, whose trial on a first-degree murder charge is set to begin next month.

Lane, a 22-year-old from Melbourne, was visiting his girlfriend before starting his senior year at East Central University in Ada, a town about 80 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Investigators have said he was randomly targeted by bored teenagers.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Oklahoma-man-pleads-in-slaying-of-Australian-6156111.php#photo-7710598

[Yo_Mama]

1. Such a sad story - a thrill killing, basically.

Makes you wonder what's going on.

[7962]

2. Judi, You posted this HOURS ago and zero responses. Wonder why?

I remember this case very well. I'll go ahead and say it, you make the victim in this a black person and your OP would have 300 responses. And thats the problem. We should react to crimes like this in the same way regardless of the race of the victim. But obviously we dont here.

[Doctor_J]

3. afraid you are right

This one doesn't fit the outrage profile.

[nomorenomore08]

5. While we should never dismiss victims of any race, I think historical precedent is a partial reason.

Remember that, for most of this country's history, a white person could kill a black person almost with impunity, a tragic and disgusting reality still reflected in many white Americans' attitudes to this day.

[murielm99]

4. Ada..

That is the setting of the non-fiction book John Grisham wrote, "The Innocent Man." Ron Williamson, clearly mentally ill, spent a long time on death row.

Ada has an interesting history when it comes to the concept of justice. While this crime did not take place in Ada, it brought it to mind for me.

[NaturalHigh]

6. I remember this. It was a senseless killing.

There was no profit motive, no revenge, just a thrill kill. All of the perps should have gotten life without parole in my opinion.