NCJ Number
112812
Journal
Health Dated: (July 19, 1988) Pages: 11-17
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the capital offense and death row experiences of Paul Magill, who was convicted at age 17 for rape and murder and sentenced to death in Florida in 1977.
Abstract
The article recounts the events of the crime, Magill's confession, the trial, and his sentencing and appeal. Twice, the governor signed death warrants scheduling Magill's execution; each time, he won a temporary stay. In July 1987, a Federal appeals court ordered a new sentencing trial before a new jury on the ground that in the original trial, Magill's attorney had been ineffective and the judge had improperly instructed the jurors. The new jury resentenced Magill to life in prison. This article reviews Magill's psychiatric report, his background, and his feelings about the offense and life on death row. It recounts interviews not only with Magill but also with his mother, appeals attorney, and relatives of the victim. Brief mention is made of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Thompson v. Oklahoma, in which the Court overturned the death sentence of a man who helped commit a murder at age 15. Supplementary information includes a summary of a study of the physical and background characteristics of 14 juvenile offenders on death row, a history of the juvenile death penalty, and information on juveniles currently on death row.