Samuel Flippen's Execution Date (UPDATED with Vigil Information)
Aug 18 2006 2:00 am
Aug 18 2006 2:15 am
Body:
Vigil begins at approximately 9:00 p.m. on August 17th outside the prison.
Other Vigils around the state:
The Western North Carolina chapter of PFADP will hold a vigil at the Vance Monument in Asheville from 5 to 6:30 p.m. For information, contact Monika Wengler, (828) 658-9442.
The Gaston Coalition for a Moratorium Now will sponsor a vigil in front of Belmont City Hall, 115 N. Main St., 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. The meeting may be followed by a short meeting of the coalition in a nearby restaurant. Contact George Burazer, (704) 822-6350.
There will be a prayer service in the Chapel of the Newman Catholic Student Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. Patty Hanneman, Community Church intern minister will lead the service. Tom Loflin, a member of Sammy Flippen’s defense team; retired UNC Law Professor Dan Pollitt, and the Rev. Charles Howe, a retired Unitarian Universalist minister and an activist in the death penalty abolition movement, will speak. The Newman Center is located at 218 Pittsboro St.; parking is available behind the building.
There will be a vigil at Marshall Park, located between Second and Third streets in downtown Charlotte at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Trish Pegram at (704) 522-7733, ext. 2.
There will be a vigil at 12 p.m. on the steps of the Courthouse in Murphy.
The Catawba Valley Chapter of PFADP will hold a prayer meeting at 7 p.m. in the Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, Newton. For more information, call Rebecca Inglefield at (828) 324-8845. There will be a brief meeting of the chapter after the service. All are invited.
There will be a prayer service at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh, at 7:30 p.m. After the service, participants will process with candlelight to Central Prison for a vigil that is expected to last until about 2:30 a.m. However, participants are welcome to come and go as needed.
There will be a vigil in the Weaverville town square, where Merrimon Avenue meets Main Street, 7-8 p.m. Contact Greg Yost, (828) 680-9415.
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Any Common Citizen Can See.....
There's evidence that was submitted in this case, but nothing, not one thing, said that Flippen did this crime BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT! To be honest, the case should not have even been tried in Forsyth County! He had a lousy attorney for not stepping in and stopping it. I feel like Forsyth County had it in for this man. Did Flippen's story ever change? If he's lying, wouldn't his story change at some time during 12 years? Excuse me, but I see reasonable doubt here, and I hope it's evident Tuesday. I hope Easley sees it as well. I am for the death penalty, just NOT IN THIS CASE. Like it was mentioned before, where are the bruises?....a 25 min. beating on a 2 year-old DOES sound like exaggeration to me too. Apparently, just being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, can land you on death row. I have yet to see or hear of anything that shows Flippen did this BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT. I also wonder why the mother was not even considered in this case. She was present in the home the day this child died. As for Flippen's reprimands, how many people involved in this blog curse? Everybody does at some point and time! Refusing a drug/breath test is hardly violent...neither possession...nothing there supports violence. In an earlier comment, someone said they saw his wife's temper with their own eyes! I guess this was never brought up because nobody ever considered her; can you tell me why? She was there that day, but left before Britnie collapsed. This makes me wonder if his wife and/or her family had some sort of influence on the investigation. In other cases like this one, BOTH are investigated! She said one thing, yet done another, and there's no denying that; it's in her own testimony; her own words! She was clearly negligent here, and yet she got nothing...not even a slap on the wrist. The video of Britnie 49 days before the murder only made that jury just as blood thirsty as that crooked D.A.! Then the D.A. saw fit to call the character witnesses trailer trash! Excuse me, but that was uncalled for. Whoever is calling people or a person a DUMBASS needs to stop the name calling. Is all that necessary? I think not. Name-calling ranks up there in violence. How could you stoop to such level? Times have changed in the past 12 years. So far, Flippen's story hasn't. Although we do not have to have solid proof for a conviction, we should have to have it for a death sentence. Darryl Hunt had to wait 18 long years before he was cleared of a crime he did not commit, and even then, Forsyth County almost choked on thier words. "We're sorry" They just wanted to put someone away for the crime, guilty or not, because it looks bad on the D.A. Don't you get it? It's just a stupid game to them! Unfortunately, Flippen doesn't get to sit and wait for the truth to come out. BEFORE HE IS PUT TO DEATH THEY SHOULD PROVIDE SOLID PROOF THAT HE DID THIS CRIME! Not circumstancial, not hear say, something that says he truly killed the child and not someone else. As for the mother, well, she's definitely not getting "Mother of the Year" for this one!
Executioners, step right up
I am against the Death Penalty. Murdering murderers to show murdering is wrong defies any reason.
Those people who are for the death penalty ought to take a turn in the execution chamber flipping the switch and watching the death. If the executioner is appalled by it, then he ought not support the death penalty. If the executioner is thrilled by it, then she is a sadistic beast. If the executioner feels a quiet sense of satisfaction and oneness with the God of creation, then he is just plain nuts.
Scrutiny Hooligans - http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us
George Carlin said it best...
Instead of the death penalty, how about if we just hook them up to a lightening rod on a high roof during a lightening storm....and let God decide!
But then no...this would be cruel and inhuman punishment....?
Not in my name...from a different Concerned Citizen
Quick point: My site is "Concerned Citizen" at blog.willraymond.org - I'm not the same person posting as "Concerned Citizen".
Because I believe in the general intent of 14th Amendment to promulgate equal protection under our laws
and because I know that those laws are sometimes applied capriciously, unequaly, with malice by fallible folks within a system forever destined to be flawed, and because death is the one punishment that society can never make amends for - I'm am and will ever be against the death penalty.
I know the application of the equal protection clause is a terrible burden for some of the victims of these heinous crimes. I know that it is easier for those not directly affected to call for the provable guilty to live so that the State has an opportunity to make amends to the innocent or to rationally reduce the punishment for those later deemed to be less criminally culpable. I also know that the State is killing - sometimes mistakingly, sometimes with malice but always with the real possibility of wrongful application - in my name.
And that's why I've taken a public stand against the death penalty.
Gee Will
your not a rabid hate-monger? Who would have thunk it.
You can see Republican values at work right here on this thread. Immorality and hate - those are the Republican values.
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Thank you
I appreciate your ignorance.... There is nothing wrong with having the death penalty... The problem is that the truth has never been told by certain parties... If it had been we would not even have this blog because no one would be sentenced to death.....
I'm closing comments on this thread tomorrow
It's getting unwieldy, and I get the sense that people are talking past each other. If you've got anything else to get out of your system in this thread, do it tonight or tomorrow morning. I strongly encourage anyone who wants to continue the conversation to sign up for a free account and use their own blog for the purpose.
G'night.
It sounds like
You must have been in prison yourself Lance.... You are so detailed in your descriptions... I guess at this point I must ask what is your purpose here???? I at this point, have found that you have not contributed one single ounce to this blog...WHy have you not set up your own BLOG as you suggest???? By the way your timeline is way past for persons to get thing off of there chest... So maybe it is time for you to just move on and let the others discuss things that they consider more important than just how much it cost to keep someone in prison for life or whether it cost more to kill them.... DUMBASS!!!!!!!!
Samuel Flippen's Disciplinary Infractions
I'm not sure where on the blog it's posted, but someone mentioned how many times Flippen has been in trouble in prison. None of the six reprimands were violent. He had a charge of substance possession in 4/2000. He refused to submit to a drug/breath test in 5/2000. He had two charges of disobeyed order and profane language in 7/2005. He disobeyed an order in 4/2000. He had a no threat contraband charge in 3/2000. You can see all of these charges in depth by doing a specialized search (one that law enforcement and legal teams use). I have a hard time believing that if he's been on death row for over nine years that this guy who is supposed to be so violent has only been charged with six things, and none of them are violent.
Take a look at some of the other people there who have racked up tons of disciplinary charges.
We have heard a lot of people who defend Flippen, and people who defend the mother. It would be interesting to hear from the mother herself or Flippen's family to hear their take on why or why not he's really guilty.
go to message 23388 and
go to message 23388 and maybe you can read your answer without any further post...
I am sure how about you???
You prove my point....Everything is to the very word. Or is it???? I never said I did not want the BIBLE quoted you did.... Here again this case is not about the BIBLE or POLITICS, It is about certain persons telling the truth... This has not happened and until it does everything else is speculation......
TRUTH?
For people who don't want the Bible quoted, y'all sure are throwin' it around a lot. Wasn't it Jesus who said "the truth shall set you free"? Only he didn't say that, as it is so often misquoted. He said the truth shall MAKE you free!
Are ya sure you can handle the truth?
TRUTH
What is that persons of interest are looking for??? A child is dead and Samuel Flippen is convicted of First degree murder.... I think that people only want to know the truth... What I want to know... Is it the truth they truly seek??? People take sides based upon emotion and the way that they feel..... And maybe the love that they have for a person or life itself..... Just ask yourself what if??? The Truth where to be known and all of a sudden everyone involved in this discussion was wrong?????? What if one side said nothing and the other side had to make it up as they thought it happened???? WOW!!!!!! What a revelation..... Wake up!!!! The TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREEEEEE.......
Truth is right
There really isn't a need for political or religious views. It really comes down to issues of law, and again, we all have our own opinions as to whether the evidence presented was enough to convict or not. I am interested in reading about the facts of the case, but like some of the others who have posted, I, also, could do without all the slamming on liberals (even though I'm a registered Republican) and the Biblical opinions. We all have our religious views, but it would be helpful for those who haven't formed an opinion one way or the other to be able to just hear the facts of the case. That's just the way I feel and maybe others do as well.
Must have struck a nerve.... HOW AMAZING!!!!!
Funny how all of the rambling has STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN!!!!!!! Do you get my point.... Speculation on the prosecution side or the defense side is useless.... This case is based upon speculation on both sides... That is where the problem is... ARE YOU STARTING TO GET THE PICTURE???????? THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!!!!!!!
The issue is not about Who's religion or political view is right
Is everyone here an adult???? By reading all of this back and forth crap, I have a very hard time believing that.... To everyone involved in this arguement I will do my best to open the eyes of the blind.... The truth shall set you free... If and when the truth is told, Those in favor of the death penalty, including me, will truly find that this case should have never been a death penalty case.... I know this for a fact.... As far as someone, including Samuel Flippen beating a 2 yr. old for 25 minutes (Please can you be that stupid????))))) No, I repeat, No, 2 yr. old, could possibly withstand a 25 MINUTE BEATING!!!!!! Of the magnitude that has been testified too... So where does this take the arguement???? Where there some things that might have been over exagerated???? Are there some things in this case that leave one to wonder about the truth????? Yes, there is..... THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!!!!!!!!
I think so...
I have to tell you that you are entitled to your opinion. Am I judging you? Sure, I am. Quite frankly, I think you're a religious fanatic nut!
Thanks!
Thanks for the compliment. I know you probably didn't mean it that way, but it's the way I took it. If the world can be a FANatic for sports, etc then I count it a priviledge to be a fanatic for my Lord.
P.S.
Where do you think the word "fan" came from. It's an abbreviated form of fanatic :-)
To Concerned Citizen
You are using your "Christian" views in a mean and ugly manner. You need to remember what Jesus said in John..."Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."...Also, remember, "Judge not lest ye be judged." I'm pretty sure that you have a very judgmental nature. You seem vindictive and mean-spirited. Judging others is as much a sin as murder. Find me somewhere in the Bible that Jesus said one sin was worse than the other. I do agree with you on your point that God loves the sinner but doesn't love the sin.
I think that it's somewhat sad that everyone who hates him so much has that much malice in their heart. Holding a grudge is another sin so while you're chastising those of us who are defending his right to clemency...you need to take a long, hard look at your own heart.
Am I really?
I am not judging anybody. If you will continue to read your Bible in the book of Ephesians, we are known by our works. Galatians 5 lists a long line of the "works of the flesh', which includes murders. In Ephesians 5:11 we are told to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them".
You say that you are pretty sure that I am judgmental...are you not judging me? Maybe you should practice what you preach. You say that my "Christian" views are used in a mean and ugly manner. Will you say that Jesus' views are mean and ugly? For I have only portrayed what is the Biblical view of murder and those who commit murder. And what about the malace that was in Sammy's heart when he murdered Britnie? When you commit such atrocities you open yourself up for judgment...not from me or those who believe in the death penalty, but from the Lord and from the court that convicted and sentenced Flippen.
I wonder how much love you and all these other folks would have in your heart for old Sammy if it had been YOUR 2 year old that he brutally murdered with no remorse. There's no remorse even until this day, except for the fact that he got caught and will have to pay for his crime.
I am a sinner! I admit it. I am a sinner that is saved by grace. I look at my own heart every day and ask for forgiveness. None of this changes the fact that a child was murdered and you folks want clemency for the guy who commited the murder and to this day only cares about what happens to himself.
You have a right to your opinion. We who support the death penalty as a Biblical and governmental mandate have a right to ours. If you are a law abiding citizen you have no fear of retribution from the governmental authorities. I will leave you with what the Bible clearly has to say on the subject and you can decide who has the greater authority...God or you?
Romans 13:1-4
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
OK People
I have read all of this, and I am still waiting on documented proof that SOMEONE had bruises on thier hands after this brutal beating. Didn't anyone look for that? Similiar means nothing. We need an identical match here. PROOF BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT! I just don't see it here. I can not agree with putting a man to death when we can not give such proof. Not hear say, not circumstancial, we need solid proof, and I just don't see it here.
~fancy4justice~
~fancy4justice~
A slight flaw..
...in your thinking. The law does not require proof beyond a shadow of a doubt...it requires PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT for conviction. It's obvious that the jurors in BOTH trials had NO DOUBT in their minds about who was guilty or the fact that the death sentence was applicable.
oh my
I suggest we stop feeding the trolls.
I felt this needed a response, but chose to do so elsewhere.
THE BOTTOM LINE
...AND ON IT GOES! The salient point here Robert, et al, is that Sammy Flippen was convicted of Capital Murder in a court of law in North Carolina by a jury of 12 of his peers, chosen by the DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION. The jury considered ALL of the evidence, and found that there was NO REASONABLE DOUBT that Sammy Flippen cruelly, heinously and with premeditation beat to death with his fists an innocent, defenseless, trusting 2 year old little girl who called him "Daddy". This same jury in the sentencing phase found that there were NO MITIGATING FACTORS that would keep them from passing the sentence of death upon him. The findings were again unanimous, and each individual juror was polled for his or her decision...each one confirmed the death sentance.
Because of a quirk in the Judge's instructions to the jury, not jury error, the death sentence was overturned and Flippen was granted another sentencing hearing. A NEW JURY of Flippen's peers was chosen, again by BOTH the defense and the prosecution. This jury again heard the evidence and unanamously sentenced Flippen to death. Since then, he has been given every appeal to the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and they upheld the verdict and sentence.
It is human nature for people in trouble to try to place blame on another to shift the blame from themselves or someone they love. This has been going on since Satan cast doubt on what God commanded in order to get Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. It is a known fact that light disperses darkness and in the process causes the rats to run for cover. Even now, there are countless unfounded spurious diatribes in the comments above aimed at casting aspersions on Tina, Britnie's mother in order to cast Sammy in a more favorable light. They are BLATANT LIES OUT OF HELL,and they can continue to dig dirt until they reach Hell itself, but it will not change the fact that it was Sammy who murdered Britnie...NOT TINA!!!
Over and over, the 'experts' in the above commentaries have stated that Sammy could not have beaten Britnie for 25 minutes straight beacuse you would be exhausted after 2 or 3 minutes. In a sense, they are right. All the more is the pity! It just proves that he took several breaks in the process of brutally, maliciously, cruelly beating to death with his bare hands an innocent and trusting 2 year old child that was 1\4 his size and stature. He obviously needed to rest between beatings, but it didn't stop the beatings that eventually severed her pancreas and split her liver in half. While Sammy was resting between blows, Britnie was gasping for the very air that could sustain her precious life. Can anyone forget that there were over 20 bruises and external injuries, including 6 to her head (one of which revealed a close resemblance to the ring Sammy wore), at least 3 to her chest, injuries to her hip bone, pelvis, eye, arms and right thigh.
If that to you, Robert, is not cruel and heinous, is not the worst of the worst, then one wonders what it would take to qualify. It never ceases to amaze me that the blood of the victim can cry out from the grave, but the one who perpetrated the awful act of willful murder is made out to be the good guy who deserves to live. Well, in North Carolina the death penalty still menas something. It means that government's God given responsibility to impose the ultimate penalty to the guilty is finally being carried out. After that, Sammy will have to meet his Maker in the ultimate matter of judgement for his soul. What happens there and then can and will be determined on what Sammy does with his soul between now and August 18th. There is forgiveness with God, even for murder. But God still requires that the consequences of that sin be met, and He has foreordained that it is a life for a life.
Let us remember that the victim here is not Sammy Flippen. He disposed of the victim 12 years ago with no clemency and no vigil, and now it is her turn for the justice that God ordained and mandated in His Word.
CC, the death penalty
Is only one kind of punishment, but it's brutal and final. It's expensive and sometimes erroneously applied. It doesn't really seem like the best punishment. I'm sure that you imagine that prison is sort of like a country club, but all indications are that it's a really, really bad place to be. I hope that if someone murders me, they aren't given the freedom of death, but confined in the state's hellhole until they rot.
And all this about Bible verses: our government is not an instrument of the Lord. It's a government of the people, by the people. If we confuse government and God, we give government a power that is frightening in its scope and beyond the capacity of a human government to properly wield. Vengance is not ours to mete out. You know that murderers are ultimately going to their just deserts after death. That eternal fate is inescapable, but it's not ours to distribute. Let the killers sit in jail. I'd rather spend taxpayer money on aiding victims and preventing other crimes.
Death Penalty
Lance,
You're right..the death penalty is only one kind of punishment. In this case, it has been proven over and over that it is THE RIGHT PUNISHMENT! From your description of what prison is like it sounds like you may have some experience. How do you know? Have you spent time there?
You're also WRONG! The government IS an instrument of the Lord. It is obvious that you do not know much about the Bible or the God who gave it. God established and ordained government, as well as establishing the home and the church. The first institution that He established was the home, and when Flippen murdered Britnie Hutton, he not only took away Tina's child, but he also destroyed the family unit by breaking up their marriage. Yes, we are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is the way our founding fathers established it; it is also established on the Judeo Christian principles found in God's Word. Don't believe it? Check out the Constitution (U.S. and NC)...check out the Declaration of Independence...check out history. Real history, not the liberal revisionist version of history.
The state of North Carolina has established a law that includes the death penalty. It can be changed by law, but it has apparently not had enough opposition to change it...thankfully. I've seen the study from Duke about it costing more to execute a prisoner that to give him a life sentence. The figures are skewed and liberally biased. You don't have the right to decide for others if our, not just your tax dollars want to keep, feed and clothe a murderer for the rest of his natural life. Flippen went to prison when he was 25 years old. His life expectancy is far more than the 20 year figure the study used in 1993...it is more than double that, and with costs of upwards of $40,000 per year...well you can do the math.
The point, Lance, is that the law is established and it is relevant. Flippen has already taken an immeasureable amount of invaluable things from Britnie and her family, and now you want the good citizens of NC to spend their hard earned tax dollars to support him for the rest of his life. My advice to you and all fo your liberal friends is to accept the law for what it is or choose to move to a state where they have no death penalty. Then, if God forbid anybody ever murders you, then you can go into eternity not worried about the fate of the vile person who robbed what is made in the image of God from completing his appointed time here on the earth.
I would like you to quote me....
where Jesus says the death penalty is just. Just one spot where Jesus, the basis of Christianity says that killing the sinner is appropriate. One place where he says if slapped on one cheek, smite the other. Just one.
"Liberally biased."
As soon as you throw out this crap you prove that you have no personal opinions, but are just spewing forth talking points that have been poured into your head.
What is a liberal?
Do you understand that Jesus was a liberal and that he would be disgusted with today's immoral conservatives who thrive on hatred and evil.
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
If you knew the Bible...
...you wouldn't have to be quoted anything. If you knew the Bible you would know that Jesus is the second part of the pre-existent God-Head (John 1:1-3) who not only created everything (Genesis 1:1) but created man (Genesis 1:26). In Jesus' day thieves AND murders were put to death! Jesus was in no way close to what today's version of liberal (democrat) espouses. If he was so 'liberal', then why did he chase the money changers from the Temple with a whip in Matthew 21 and why did he refer to the scribes and pharasees (the 'religious' folks) as hypocrits, vipers and whited sepulchers? They were outward show but full of dead men's bones. In other words, they knew about him, but they did not know him.
Jesus loves the sinner but he hates the sin. What is immoral today is coddling the sinner and catering to the sin. No, Jeusus was (and is) not a liberal. He spoke more of Hell than he did of Heaven so that people would not want to go to the awful place of torment. Yes, Jesus was a "hellfire and brimstone" kind of preacher. He was not the namby pamby, weak kneed, lilly livered, lace on his sleeve watered down God that you try to make him out to be. He spoke the world into existence and then gave his life to save the sinner from the sin that he so boldly preached about. No, you're not talking about MY Jesus. Yes, the Bible says that he's meek and lowly, but it also says that his justice demands retribution...and He will be the final judge.(Revelation 21:8)
As a Christian, we speak from a regenerate heart. I speak that which I am taught from God's Word. The hatred and evil of which you speak is what caused Flippen to murder an innocent child. I speak of Jesus...the real Jesus of the Bible. The words you speak, as Jesus told the pharasees and saducees, are of your father, the Devil.
He is the final judge, that's right...
not you. Not your kin. Him. He gets to decide.
He did speak of hell, which those who hate seem to forget. Nowhere does Jesus leave it up to us to Judge and to hate.
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
I didn't judge him...
...a jury in a court of law did. I didn't do the hating...the hating was in the murder of an innocent child. The court and jury judged him here on earth. The Lord will judge him, as with all of us, when life ends and eternity begins. Without the Lord, we are condemned already...
John 3:18
-He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
vs.36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Justice and hate are not the same. Justice is being served.
Well said, Lance
Agree on every point. Bravo.
"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
Miscellaneous information on Flippen execution
To anyone who is interested in sending an email to Governor Easley opposing the execution of Sammy Flippen and is not sure what to say...there is a form message on the following website that would be very helpful if we could get as many people as possible to send...The web address is: www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp?campaign_...
You can cut and paste that address into your web browser, and you just fill out a few fields. Please let as many people as possible know about this so we can send out strong support for Sammy to the governor's office.
There is also a vigil being held on 7/31 with Sammy's legal team, family, and friends...The web address for the information is on the blog site mentioned above...www.SaveSammy.blogspot.com
Against Clemency
For those who are interested in letting Gov. Easley know that you are AGAINST him granting clemency, you can go to the following address and fill in the infomation:
http://www.governor.state.nc.us/email.asp?to=1
Britnie may not have a vigil, but you can give her a final voice by letting the Governor know that YOU SUPPORT THE EXECUTION OF SAMUEL R. FLIPPEN! Those who support the execution need not be told what to say...just speak from your heart!
For anyone wanting to write the Governor
Anyone wanting to write the governor can use the view other contact info link on the left side bar.
Also, he does not read them, at least about the death penalty. Every other topic, I get a response, but never for the death penalty.
let me fix your formatting error
hopefully this will do it. Please make sure to close your fields before posting.
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Point Proven
Just look at the different viewpoints here. You are all normal people, just folks, you would probably meet at church or at the grocery store and be friends. Yet, your opinions on this case are completely different. Also, doubts are raised as to whether Flippen committed the crime. In the end it comes down to he said, she said. In the Alan Gell case, many people who sided with the victim were absolutely sure Alan was the murderer. They howled for his blood and for the "justice" it would bring, just as some of you do here today. Only one small problem, he wasn't guilty. He said, she said.
This is no way to decide who gets killed by the state, which is to say, but us.
Judges are just people who go into trials with the same prejudices we all do, perhaps they are not supposed to, but they do. A defendant going before Logical would face the death penalty, a defendant going before Lance for the same crime would not. A black defendant going before a judge with racial issues would be killed, a white defendant guilty of the same crime would not; and, vice-versa.
This is no way to decide who gets killed by the state, which is to say, by us.
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Beautiful summation Robert.
You just said all that ever needs to be said.
remember what the case is really about (justice for britnie)
I have to agree with the comment by justice served at 11:10pm. We all need to remember here what the case is about, recieving justice for a helpless innocent two year old who did not deserve her untimely murder by someone that she was suppose to trust to take care of her (her stepfather Samuel Flippen). And let me remind everyone that these personal attacks here are not neccesary and completely irrelavent to the case itself. We need to be concerned with the facts; solely the facts; thank you.
Justice Served
It is obvious to me that some people who are posting comments on this page are not aware of the facts of this case. The person using
the code name "logical", at least has the facts straight. Those who
are truely interested in justice for this precious little two year
old baby girl, ought to pull up the transcripts and read the testimony. The testimony of the coroner who did the autopsy will confirm that this crime could not have been commited by anyone other than Samuel Flippen. It was determined by the autopsy that Britnie's mother was gone well before the beating started. According to testimony, the cornor also said that Britnie suffered from over 20
blows from Sammie's fists. She was shown no mercy and suffered terrible stabbing pains when she tried to breathe. This child was terrified, defenseless, and suffered greatly according to the coroner's testimony. The premediatation was that Samuel Flippen could have stopped his cruel and henious treatment of Britnie but he did not. He continued to hit her over and over again. The testimony of the coroner was also that this went on for 25 minutes. Don't tell me that is not cruel and henious. The testimony was also that Samuel
did not call 911 right away, he let her suffer for some period of time. This was a cold and calculated act on his part and when paramedics arrived, he was not concerned about her welfare at all. According to the testimony of the paramedics, he was just leaning against the door with a cold look on his face. According to the paramedics, when arriving on the scene, where a child is injured, parents are usually running around frantic and concerned but not Sammy Flippen. He was very calm, even though Britnie lay unconscience in the next room. She was laying there, gasping for breath and Samuel Flippen was not at all concerned. He let her die a slow and torturous death. I am confident that this man commited this crime and that he deserves the death penalty. Two different juries heard the evidence of this case and both sentenced him to death. If this man was to receive anything other than the death penalty, We would be sending the wrong message to child murderers. There has
to be a strong determent for crimes against children, for they cannot defend themselves. Child murders are escalting and people need to know that if they commit such a crime, they will pay the penalty. If we don't defend the children. who will?
As for the mother, according to testimony, she loved Samuel Flippen very much and trusted him. You don't automatically assume someone will kill your sweet baby girl because he has a temper. She left her there that morning because she trusted the husband she loved. All this is according to testimony at the trial. This mother has suffered enough! Samuel Flippen betrayed her trust and took the most
precious thing in the world from her, her baby girl. When Samuel Flippen dies, it won't bring Britnie Hutton back but justice will finally be served for the precious little baby girl who never got the chance to grow up. This mother and the rest of Britnie's family will finally put her to rest and will never have to be reminded
again of the awful way this sweet little baby girl suffered and died. The Bible says in Romans 13:1-4 that the government has the authority to implement the death penalty when someone takes the life of another person. The state has spoken not once but twice in this case and now it is time for justice to be served. Samuel Flippen now needs to make things right with God and this family. He needs to admit what he did and ask God to forgive him. I am confident that
according to testimony in the trial that this man is guilty. Quit punishing this mother and remember who the victim is...... Britnie
Nicole Hutton,......not Samuel Flippen.
Sammy
the problem I have with your statement is that you say read the transcripts...well I have too and you need to go back and read them...Tina was not gone WELL before the beatings started( or at least not well before in my definition of well before)...as a matter of fact she was only gone approximately 45 minutes when 911 was called. I don't consider that well before...2nd if he did do what you say and beat her for 25 minutes then that puts her being gone for only 20 minutes...also you claim that you have read the transcripts and that she left Britnie with him because she trusted him...well go back and read the transcripts...there is testimony that she had concerns of prior occurrences with how he treated Britnie (don't quote the exact wording but it was along those lines)...sorry but as a mother you DON"T leave your child if you have ANY concerns...I personally think that is BULLSHIT...You can defend Tina all you want and yes this is the most tragic thing possible for a child....BUT....Tina is not so innocent....The thing that is frustrating the most is that you ridicule those who support Sammy and who believe in the possibility that he did not do this...Well if you truly take an impartial look and know the possibilities, then yes the possibility exist that Tina had the opportunity as well. I could easily have convinced a jury of that as well if the decision was made to try her....For true Justice to be served then the mother should have been on trial also...At least for negligence. Simply stated...accept the fact that YOU and NOBODY knows the truth 100% except God, Britnie, Sammy & Tina. Even if you say the possibility that Tina could have done something is only 1% then the 1% chance is reason enough that he should not be excuted. Also if you are a true Christian as you appear to be claiming quoting scripture from the Bible then the Bible talks about forgiveness as well so if you can't understand why Sammy's family and friends would not want him to die even if he did do it then I would say you don't understand...Executing him will not bring Britnie back and won't serve Justice..It will simply bring even more tragedy. If you know so much how much the family hurt for the loss of Britnie then why would you or anyone want another human (Sammy's mom/dad/siblings/realtives & friends) to suffer that same pain. Even if Sammy did do it (which I still don't know 100%) his parents and family did not, but yet you want THEM to suffer with pain now (even more pain than they already have and maybe try to also put yourself in their shoes)...YOU are no better of a person in God's eye's either. A Sin is a Sin in God's eyes. Britnie was a beautiful sweet little girl who did not deserve what happened but to bring some comfort to your heart remember she is in a much happier place now than we are and she is in a much more beautiful place.
Justice and compassion
You obviously still don't understand that the coroner stated in his testimony that the mother could not have done this. If Britnie had
sustained the injuries she had before her mother left, she would not have been able to talk or stand. Samuel testified that he asked Britnie if she was okay and she said "yes". The coroner also testified that according to the time of death, the mother could not have done it because Britnie could not have lived that long after
sustaining the awful injuries that she had. So, even if the mother was gone only 20 minutes before the beating started, it is still proof that she DID NOT COMMIT THIS CRIME! I know you are grasping at straws because you don't want to see Samuel die for
this awful crime he commited. I think this is an awful tragedy for everyone concerned. My heart does go out to the family because they
will be losing someone they love dearly. This does not change the fact that Samuel Flippen showed NO MERCY to a precious little baby girl and in the process beat her do death with his fists. He could have stopped, BUT HE DIDN'T. It seems to me that most of you have
forgotten about what he did to Britnie and how it affected her mother and the rest of the family. Yes, Britnie is in Heaven and
and one day her mother and family will see her again but they were
robbed of spending a lifetime with her. Samuel has blamed everyone from the Ems workers to the heartbroken mother of Britnie. He has never had one expert witness that could that could testify that he
didn't do this. The coroner who testified at the trial is an expert
and worked on many child murder cases. His tesimony is that Britnie's injuries were consistent with size and force of Sammy's fist. The blow that killed her was to her abdomen and cut her liver half in two and severed her pancreas.The force of the blows were consistent of a man and Samuel Flippen was the ONLY ONE THERE!
The whole thing is so sad but justice must finally be served for Britnie and her family. The only justice in this case would be the death penalty. As I said before. God has given us a guideline in his word to go by......Genesis 9:6 and Romans 13:1-4 just to name a couple. Forgiveness has nothing to do with wanting justice to be served. Samuel Flippen has never one time showed any sorrow for the death of Britnie Hutton. He was not sad that she died, only that he got caught. May he confess his sin to God and ask God to forgive him and save him, there is always forgiveness for those who are willing to ask. I'm sure Britnie's family would forgive him too but you have to be willing to admit what you have done and ask for forgiveness before forgiveness can be given. Even when forgiven, a person must
still pay the price for that have done.
Contridiction
Very interesting point here. It seems as though the wife, Tina, contridicted herself in this case. She said one thing, but done another. Her actions deserve some explaining. I am surprised no attorney or investigator didn't notice or bring this to attention.
As for Britnie, she's in a far better place; where no one can ever harm her again.
~fancy4justice~
~fancy4justice~
Sammy Flippen's execution
I have to agree with some of the other people that posted. I also knew Sammy in high school, and I never saw any of this violent temper, either. As for the mother, I can't put any blame on her. She did lose her child, but why if she felt threatened by him...Why would she leave Britnie alone with him? I can't understand that.
No one does know the reality of what happened that day...only God, Britnie, and Sammy. All legality aside, we live in a society where everyone has to have closure. In the Winston Salem Journal when the execution date was announced, Britnie's uncle mentioned that once Sammy was executed the family would have closure.
That is a ridiculous statement. Once Sammy is murdered, and no matter where you stand on capital punishment, that is what's going to happen...Once he's gone, Britnie won't be back. There is no closure for that. Besides that, what about Sammy's family? He has parents that love him, siblings that do, and friends that do as well. That speaks volumes about the person he was and continues to be.
I understand the anger over the death of a beautiful, little girl, but executing Sammy is not going to fix it. You can't have that day back, and I have to tell you based on all the things that I saw from him in the past..at the most, if he did do this, you're looking at manslaughter or second degree murder. He may have snapped, but this was not a long, thought out, premeditated murder.
I'm late to this discussion
And if I'm missing or repeating something that has already been written, I'm sorry.
What's the problem with keeping murderers locked up for life? It will keep them from killing again, and I hear that being in prison is pretty awful, so there's a lifetime of punishment there.
On the other hand, there are some pretty clear problems with killing folks. Sometimes the wrong people get killed. I'm sure that people emotionally involved with the victims are sure that this is the right guy, but in every capital case there are at least 12 people sure that they've got the right guy. Sometimes they're wrong. Besides that, it's more expensive to kill someone than to keep them locked up for life, even with expedited appeals (it's true!).
So what's with the bloodlust, folks? I can understand being upset enough to want someone dead, but isn't one of the main reasons for even having courts is to keep raw emotion from determining outcomes?
The Right Perspective
FIRST AND FOREMOST TO ANONYMOUS WHO POSTED AT 7:04 PM...YOU'RE AN OUT AND OUT LIAR!!! BRITNIE'S MOTHER HAS NEVER HAD HER CHILDREN (SHE ONLY HAS ONE) TAKEN FROM HER BY DSS. YOU NOT ONLY HAVE A TEMPER, BUT YOU ALSO ARE A STRANGER TO THE TRUTH!
NOW...
Let's put this thing into the right perspective...the justice system has done its job. The evidence WAS and IS Clear...Flippen is guilty of BEATING TO DEATH A 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WITH HIS FISTS!!! How can that not be heinous? The child's pancreas was severed and her liver torn in half; there were more than 20 bruises on her body. Britnie's mother didn't do this; Britnie certainly didn't do it to herself! There was only one person responsible...Samuel L. Flipppen!
Some have touted Sammy's "good nature and humor". He's been praised endlessly for the fact that he went to church and graduated from a Christian School. I personally graduated from a Christian School, and people say that I'm a pretty humorous person, but I've never let my temper cause me to beat a two year old to death because she wouldn't stop crying for her mother. I also know the pastor of the church where Flippen attended and I feel certain that he would not want his church linked to people who want clemency for this child killer. I know for sure that this pastor believes in the death penalty because it is a command from the Scripture: "WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED; FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD MADE HE MAN." (Genesis 9:6) There are many other verses for the death penalty in the Bible for MURDER, but there are none against it.
The Right Perspective is that Britnie didn't have clemency. Britnie didn't get a chance to live 36 years, only 2. Britnie didn't get the chance to grow up in church or go to a Christian School. Britnie didn't get to grow up to be a 25 year old and chose to let her temper enrage her to the point that she beat a helpless, trusting, 2 year old to death with her fists. Sammy Flippen had all of those priveledges and choices and he chose to commit capital murder; a crime in the state of North Carolina that is punishable by death. The state has allowed Sammy, his family and his attorneys every chance through two separate trials and every appeal allowed by the law to prove that he did not commit this heinous crime. In every case they failed to prove he was innocent. Britnie's REAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS have had to suffer through 12 years of these seemingly endless appeals, and now it is time for him to pay for his crime.
the "real" right perspective
I knew Sammy and Tina and would consider myself an aquaintence. I do not know who killed Britnie...Sammy? or Tina?...The fact that the evidence is circumstancial is why Sammy does not deserve the death penalty...if it is determined at some point and time that he did not do this, then it is too late...there is a possibility that he did not do anything to Britnie..the reason I say this is because Tina had just left the home about 40-45 minutes (approximately) before Sammy called 911. Tina could have easily caused harm to Britnie right before she left without Sammy having any knowledge. (I have seen Tina have a temper as well with my own eyes) She could have walked out the door and then when Sammy is there watching Britnie the only thing he knows is that she did fall out of the chair...she very well could have been crying and would have been if her mother had just hit her before she left...when she fell and he noticed she had difficulty breathing he called 911. As far as he knows the only thing that happened was that she fell from a chair. When EMS got there her pupils were already fixed and lips blue...her injuries sustained based on the medical records report would not have caused an immediate death...the point of making this statement is that there is the possibility that this could have happened. The time frame of when Tina left the home and when 911 was called proves that there is a POSSIBILITY that Tina could have done this to her own daughter...also as a mother myself, if I was afraid of someone hurting my child then I would NEVER leave my child alone with that person...NEVER...IF Sammy did do this and Tina was aware of some violent temper she claims he had then she should have NEVER EVER left Britnie and she is just as guilty for leaving her child...Further don't make the argument that she had to go to work and didn't have a choice...remember there was also testimony that she left Britnie with Sammy to go to a concert before as well...I really don't think Tina was concerned about leaving Britnie with Sammy ever...Regardless of who you support Sammy or Tina there is a possibility here and the time frame does allow the possibility that Tina did something and not Sammy...based on this possibility, this is why Sammy does not deserve to die....NOBODY knows 100% except, Britnie, God , Sammy & Tina...
P.S. To the family and friends of Tina who think Sammy should die and quote Genesis...yes that is what the bible says... so should Tina die for aborting a fetus...that is in God's eyes a human being too. Before you strike back a response to say that is not true...well maybe you need to learn the facts about that and ask Tina.
Perspective
This is EXACTLY what I have been trying to say all along. The fact is there is doubt here, anyway you look at it. I do not know why futher investigating was not done. At that time, I guess the police department and/or the sheriff's department were more concerned about such issues as the sexual harassment case where they were found guilty, and of course the sheriff's son who shot himself and blamed Hispanics for it. We are all human, and we are not without flaws. (this is what I am getting at) Sammy's death will not bring back Britnie. It seems sort of convenient that Sammy was to blame, but lets face it, he was no the only one that was with Britnie that day before she died. EVERYONE should have been a suspect. This is first I have heard anyone speak out on Tina's temper. I guess because everyone was focused on just Sam. I will not say he didn't do it, nor will I say he did. I will say this, if youo beat something or someone for 25 minutes, you will work up a seat, and you will be exhausted. (just watch the UFC, those guys are the most elite fighters in the world) Most fights last only a few minutes. If a fist was used,there should be some bruises. If you hit someone or something so hard to cause the injuries that Britnie suffered from, there should be some bruises on the fist, I don't care who you are.
Were there bruises? Who had them? That's just a question I have. Just like everyone else, I'd like to see justice here, and someone to pay for the crime, but I don't want just anyone, I want the GUILTY one. I can't help but think that the D.A.'s office just wanted a conviction whether the accused did it or not. It looks bad if they don't have a conviction. Almost as bad as it reflected on the office when the D.A. called Sam's character witnesses "trailer trash". It's always nice to know what these people really think about their taxpaying citizens!
As for DSS taking Tina's child, that makes me think too. There had to be some evidence for them to come in a home and take a child from it's mother. They don't just go in and randomly split up a family like that. Since Tina was in the home prior to Britnie's death, these factors are a part of the case. Whoever posted "the "real" right perspective", I agree completely!
...two assasains
It's blatantly obvious that there are two assasains in the Flippen clan. The son murders a child and the mother tries to assasinate the character of the murdered child's mother. It is also obvious that your memory is faded from the way corporal punishment, as I understand it, was doled out to Sammy when he was a child. Knowing this, how can you say you would NEVER leave your child with someone like that? Maybe if you had not remained ANONYMOUS during that period of time, then Sammy could have been better at controlling his own temper.
Let's stick to the facts in the case. Evidence doesn't lie and the preponderance of the evidence proved Sammy to be the one that murdered Britnie...NOT TINA!
Samuel Flippen was responsible and NO ONE ELSE!
I understand all of the concerns for the death penalty, when someone has been wrongly accused but let's not forget who is to blame here. I will tell you one person that it is not to blame and that is the mother. She wasn't there. She never would have left her daughter there if she had any clue of what was to come. They were a young couple and had just gotten married. Just because someone has a temper you don't think that they will kill your child in a violent rage. Sammy was mad because Britnie was crying for her mommy and he snapped and lost control of himself! Tina loved Britnie more than life itself. I can only imagine what that poor baby went through the last terrifying moments of her life. Are you reading these postings about what she went through by the hands of "this great loving man who has so much to offer society" according to this blogspot.com? And you are still pointing fingers at everyone but Samuel Flippen. I don't understand why you don't think that little Britnie doesn't deserve justice. She isn't here. Samuel Flippen is still surrounded by loved ones and family. While Britnie's mother and family are without her. For you to accuse the mother is like accusing David Smith when Susan Smith killed her children or Andrea Yates. Why weren't their husband's arrested? Blaming the mother is just a last ditch effort. And I don't honestly think you are interested in this case or how Britnie was beaten to death. I am just sorry that he will feel no pain. Along with Logical, I hope that you will also remember the little baby girl named Britnie that is no longer here because of this man.
Samuel Flippen's Guilt
The reason I asked about Britnie's mother is because since then she has had children, and the Department of Social Services have taken them from her. So I'm afraid DSS does not agree with you. I've seen some cases where children should have been removed from the home and DSS didn't think so, so it has to be pretty bad for them to do that. Let's see, we have the step-father on death row getting ready to be executed, saying he's innocent, and the mother has more children now, in the custody of DSS.
As for the temper, I have a bad temper, I'll admit, and I have 3 kids, but I have never abused them, and DSS has never even tried to take them from me. Temper means nothing. There's no documents to back that up. Since he's been incarcerated, he's not been in any trouble either.
IF he had such a bad temper & they were a young newly married couple, seems like she would have noticed his temper. I mean, do we marry total strangers or do we get to know them for awhile? She left the child with him not only to work, but to go to concerts, etc. So far, I have heard that he displayed violent behavior and hated Britnie. If you know this, the mother did too. I guess she thought it was okay to still live with him then? And leave her child with him while she went out? Sounds like negligence to me. And now we have the other children.....
I still say that they need to look into the mother. Say what you want, but we all know it has to be pretty bad for DSS to step in and take you children!