Two 18 year olds charged in the brutal death of a homeless man will not face the death penalty.
Jeffery Spurgeon and Justin Stearns have been charged with the first-degree murder of Michael Eugene Roberts, a capital felony, but the State Attorney's Office decided against pursuing the death penalty, Assistant State Attorney Ed Davis said at a court hearing Wednesday….
Neither the victim's family nor the National Coalition for the Homeless wanted the death penalty.
"We're not after revenge. We just want justice," said Roberts' sister, Barbara Burns.
Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, also agreed with the decision. "The National Coalition does not support the death penalty, so I think [the state attorney's] decision is probably appropriate.
"We do want justice to be done."
Stoops is visiting Daytona Beach to speak to local homeless advocates about Roberts' death and to lobby U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, for a congressional study on violence against the homeless. Stoops will address a meeting of the Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the Homeless at 4 p.m. today at the Homeless Assistance Center, 316 North St., Daytona Beach. Stoops and his staff also are shooting a documentary film that will include interviews with local homeless people and examine Roberts' death.
Roberts, who had been living in the woods near Holly Hill, was beaten to death May 25 at his campsite, investigators said. He had been attacked three times over the course of two hours, during which he was beaten, kicked and punched. His attackers also threw a log onto his chest and jumped onto the log, according to investigative reports.
Stoops, my former colleague with the National Coalition for the Homeless, is correct that the death penalty is not justice. Most Christian churches oppose the death penalty. We can hope, however, a real and substantial measure of justice is offered up to the defendants.
Related Link: A Faith Perspective on Violence and Homelessness in America
Related Link: Hate Crimes & Violence Against Homeless People Increasing
