Regardless of your opinion of the death penalty, it exists because of guys like convicted Baseline Killer Mark Goudeau.
Goudeau was convicted yesterday of 67 serious felonies -- nine of which were murder raps -- stemming from a year-long crime spree in 2005 and 2006.
Tomorrow, Goudeau's trial will enter the sentencing phase. The death penalty is on the table -- and is presumably the sentence Goudeau will receive.
As our colleague Paul Rubin pointed out yesterday, Wednesday's phase of Goudeau's trial is the so-called "aggravation phase," during which "prosecutors can, among other things, pull out almost all the stops, and
show the jury how the murders (nine in this case) and the myriad other
crimes Goudeau has been found guilty of committing have affected so many
lives."
Goudeau's crimes have affected a lot of lives. Aside from the families of the nine people ruthlessly murdered by one of the most vile serial killers in Arizona history, there are several people who survived Goudeau's attacks, including two sisters he sexually assaulted in September of 2005.
As we mentioned, regardless of how you feel about the death penalty, it exists in Arizona -- and Goudeau seems like a prime candidate for a date with an executioner's needle.
But we want to know what you think: should Goudeau expect a death sentence, or can he somehow escape the sentencing phase of his trial with his life?
Cast your vote below.
