Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. In 1992, Craig fired three bullets through the head of LSU freshmen student Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.
“We have someone who committed such a heinous crime without any remorse. It’s just appalling. And so, when we can test precedent in this way, we’re going to do it,” Murrill said.
Craig was a few days shy of his 18th birthday when the crime took place and cannot be put to death because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says capital punishment cannot be carried out if the person was 17 or younger at the time of the crime.
“We just don’t see that there’s any rational or logical reason to say that we can’t use the death penalty in a case like that, when he was two-weeks shy of turning 18. And so it’s a good vehicle for testing that Supreme Court precedent,” Murrill said.
To get the legal process going, the Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge to reinstate the death sentence for Craig. She expects it will be denied and that will allow the state to appeal the lower court’s ruling to get the case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We can work it up the chain, and get it in the United States Supreme Court, and see whether they will grant a writ and hear this case,” Murrill explained.
In 1994, Craig was found guilty of first-degree murder and the jury determined he should receive the death sentence. A 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court in 2005 determined it was cruel and unusual punishment to carry out death sentenced against juvenile offenders.
