World-Herald editorial: The punishment fits some crimes

This is what Michael Ryan did.

On a farm near Rulo, Neb., the cult leader tied up a 25-year-old man. Over a period of several days, the victim was sexually assaulted, his fingertips were shot off, he was whipped, some of his skin was peeled away and his rib cage was crushed.

For that, Michael Ryan was sentenced to death.

The crime occurred in 1985. When the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the verdict in 1989, Judge John Grant wrote: "It is hard for this court to conceive of a more senseless and brutal murder." Ryan's execution is set for March 6.

Some acts of violence and cruelty are so unspeakable that the state is justified in imposing the ultimate punishment.

Legislators have been considering Omaha Sen. Brenda Council's bill to substitute life in prison without parole for the state's current penalty of death by lethal injection.

Sincere opposition to capital punishment is voiced by many and must be respected. Legislators on both sides of this difficult question have debated in a sober and thoughtful manner. This truly should be a vote of conscience for lawmakers.

In some states, innocent death row inmates later were exonerated. In Nebraska, there's been little evidence of a rush to judgment. Ryan was convicted nearly 26 years ago. Another death row inmate, Carey Dean Moore, was convicted of shooting two Omaha cab drivers nearly 33 years ago. Their cases have been heard and reviewed by the courts for years.

It is argued that prosecuting death row cases, housing the convicts and conducting extended appellate battles is expensive. That's true. But Nebraska judges haven't been excessive in handing down death sentences.

There currently are 11 death row inmates in the state. There's no dispute that their crimes — killing a 3-year-old boy and cutting up his body, or shooting five innocent people in a bank — were heinous. As was what Michael Ryan did.

For such crimes, the death penalty should remain an option.

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