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KFC Murders: State Won’t Seek Death Penalty, Trial Moved To Central Texas Save Email Print
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(May 17, 2008)--Texas will not seek execution in the trial of a second man charged with capital murder in the 1983 deaths of five people abducted from a Kilgore Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Judge J. Clay Gossett said in court Friday in Henderson, that the state filed paperwork indicating its intent to waive the death penalty in the case of Darnell Hartsfield.

Hartsfield's cousin, Romeo Pinkerton of Tyler, pleaded guilty in October to his role in the killing of five people taken from the restaurant.

Pinkerton accepted five life prison terms.

The Longview News-Journal reports Gossett also ordered Hartsfield's trial to be moved from Rusk County to Brazos County.

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 in Bryan.

Prosecutors declined comment on the decision to waive the death penalty, citing a gag order.
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Posted by: wacky Location: waco on May 20, 2008 at 10:26 AM
I say anyone who has killed another deserves DEATH by execution! Well this guy killed not just 1 but 5 so why does he deserve to live? Did he have a motive?
Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Send him to Arizona and have him sleep in the tent with his pink jumper to wear. I agree with others, why wait 24 more months, hasn't the victims' families been waiting 26 years...my gosh 26 years and you are going to make them wait two more years...if anything you are cruel and inflicting punishment on the families and the people by extending the court time over and over.
Posted by: susiebw Location: kempner on May 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Why? Why should he live when he didn't allow those five people to live?
Posted by: LYN Location: KILLEEN on May 19, 2008 at 08:40 AM
HOW CONVENIENT A GAG ORDER SO NOONE HAS TO TELL WHY! WELL HE NOW WILL GET 3 HOT MEALS A BED TO SLEEP IN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION FREE OF CHARGE PITY HE'S NOT IN ARIZONA I THINK ALL JAILS S/BE TENTS IN THE DESERT AND PINK CLOTHING
Posted by: lon Location: hewitt on May 18, 2008 at 09:29 PM
i agree with willian , except why wait for 24 months ? tomorrow morning at 6 a m would be fine
Posted by: Texas taxpayer Location: Texas on May 18, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Why shouldnt he be given the death sentence? Isnt that what he gave his victims? Why should we as taxpayers have to house, feed, cloth, take care of his medical expenses for the rest of his life? God said " A eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"
Posted by: Susan Location: Texas on May 17, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I don't understand why a criminal has more rights and defence than the actual victim. This is a very perplexing idea. So far, if you commit a crime, you stand a better chance of a slap on the wrist, than an actal punishment. What about the people that are hurt by these knuckle heads. Some how things,and of course no one checked all the rules
Posted by: donald Location: belton on May 17, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I think that all murders that are found guilty should stand before me. Let me be the judge, jury, and most of all EXECUTIONER!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 17, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Are you kidding me, these two clowns are given more opportunity than the people they killed. Those people killed didn't have didn't have that much chance on the day these two clown decided they didn't want to work for their money so they decided to kill for it so they wouldn't get caught....something really wrong with our justice system.
Posted by: William Location: Killeen on May 17, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Let's stop being touchy feely here, if this man is guilty of murdering all these people, then Death is the only answer, why do we bown down to the appeasement of the bleeding hearts over this, this man if found guilty should only be qualified for death, I along with a majority of the State of Texas are tired of paying taxes to keep these criminals alive for a long time, we need to give them a fair trial, sentence them to death and then finish what was set forth by the courts in a timely manner of no more than 24 months; I would prefer the old school way of being put to death the following day after judgment myself.
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