The legal system is a beautiful thing

I've always been a fan of covering stories that deal with crime; Criminals have always piqued my interest. I've always wondered what makes someone cross the line and break the law and put their freedom in jeopardy. I see people do this almost each day of every week.

Now, the Louis "Mick" Winkler death penalty case was a brand new experience for me. I've always heard of convicted killers, from time to time, being put to death for what a jury convicted them of and I've really never given it much thought at all. Then January 28, 2008 I saw the tedious work begin as the county, prosecutors, and even the accused started picking through nearly 200 people to find 12 who would be open-minded and willing to say a man should or shouldn't die for breaking the laws of the land.

Sitting in the back corner of courtroom 3B at the Horry County Government and Justice building in Conway, I began to realize how structured and organized this legal system is, and how serious the people who run and participate in that system are. I watched Mick Winkler's every move, trying to get a feeling if he even realized what was happening there. He spent most his time arguing with Solicitor Greg Hembree instead of addressing the questions asked of him. It was amazing to watch as the jury came back late Saturday night with a verdict that would guarantee two things from that point on: Winkler would die as an inmate and as property of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, or that the state of South Carolina would take his life. The amazing part of that process was how serious jurors took the call of duty. If you were to take the small amount of money they made that week in court and weigh it against the decision the people of Horry County put on thay jury's shoulders, there isn't a value one could place on that job.

The rumor floated around that Winkler would take the stand in the sentencing phase of his trial. In this phase, the same jury that convicted him would have to decide whether or not he should die for killing his estranged wife. As a journalist, it's our job to keep open minds and not feel one way or the other about either side in the stories we cover. This was a true test of that objectivity. As much as I felt sadness and frustration for Rebecca Winkler's family about her murder, I felt that same way for Mick Winkler's family, who traveled to Conway from their hometown in Ohio, to only watch as a man they loved be convicted, then be sentenced to death for murder. There definitely isn't a winner in this situation, and a mother and grandmother is still dead and the man who killed her will face an early death, as well.

That brings me to the whole question of the death penalty. As someone who never really gave the subject much thought, outside of thinking it should be an option if the situation warrants it, I was watching a convicted killer be condemned to death. It took those 12 men and women more than 12 hours to decide that Winkler should die. It wasn't an easy decision for the jury, obviously. Winkler told jurors before they started deliberating over his punishment that he would accept their decision. Winkler turned right around and asked the jury to spare his life. You knew he wasn't ready for death, but you know neither was Rebecca.

The jury took only about 30 minutes Friday morning to return with their decision. The courtroom filled as jurors walked back in to hand up their decision to Judge James Lockemy. The judge is the first person to read the verdict after the jury makes their decision. The judge checks over verdict forms, and checks to see if the jurors followed his instructions, such as signing their name to the form that would sentence a man to death. The judge hands the clerk of court the verdict and she walks to the front of the room to read the verdict, standing right in front of the accused. That was a surreal moment, and at that moment, you realize what just happened; a man who committed the ultimate sin against the laws of this country will pay the ultimate price with his life. You realize that what you just sat through and watched for two weeks straight is what America is all about. Every step of the way in that trial was built on cases moved through American courts for hundreds of years and you see at every turn in the trial the Constitution of the United States at work. It just goes to show that when you give Americans a job to do, no matter how tough the job, the good people of this country come through. Those 12 men and women made a decision that no one person should have to make. Now and forever, people can always look back at this case and say that 12 citizens of the county Louis "Mick" Winkler called home decided he did kill a woman who also called Horry County home, and they also decided his crimes against her and the people of this county should cost him everything.

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