Comments about ‘Former mother-in-law charged with Salt Lake City murder’

This was premeditated. Why doesn't she qualify for the death penalty?

Murder in the first degree will get you lethal injection.

...by reason of insanity.

Unbelievable....

Death Penalty should absolutely be sought!!! She pulled that trigger and has no remourse. And the son needs to be investigated into any knowledge or relationship to this for the kids sake.

times sure have changed. Back in the 50's and 60's if you had a beef you talked it out but today people think that a gun is a better solution. What has changed with society???

what's with the phrase "if convicted?" i don't get that. HOw about "when convicted?" that makes more sense

It would be pointless to seek the death penalty. At 70 years old, she'll be dead of natural causes by the time they could inject her, and it costs more to keep them on Death Row. So in all likelihood, this is just a nod to the realities of the cost involved. Life w/o parole is good enough.

What is wrong with our judicial system?

The victim got the DEATH PENALTY.......
and the shooter COULD get 15 to life? That is just wrong

NO mater what anyone says the death penalty IS a deterent......why do you think so many criminals cop a plea to avoid it?

How is FIRST DEGREE, pre meditated MURDER not worthy of the the death penalty?

Perhaps criminals would murder less people if they KNEW they were going to DIE too

wow now look what the kids have to go through. grandma kills mom, poor kids

I think she did this so that her son would get the children. This was all about the custody of the children. Now that they don't have a mother, custody will go to the son, who had nothing to do with the shooting.

So... I guess the mother-in-law got what she wanted. Her son gets custody of the kids. How's that for irony?

In Utah, there are four categories of felonies. Capital, first-degree, second-degree and third-degree. A first-degree felony charge of murder does not warrant the death penalty.

If she was charged with "aggravated murder," which is a capital felony offense, then she could possibly face the death penalty. But she wasn't.

From the Utah Sentencing Commission:

"Capital felonies are punishable by death, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or a prison term of 20 years to life. First degree felonies are generally punishable by a prison term of 5 years to life and a fine of up to $10,000. While the maximum prison term for first degree felonies always remains life, the minimum term varies and may be 3, 5, 6, 10, or 15 years depending on the crime."

Just to make it clear: what you folks think of as "first-degree murder" (from reading books or watching TV or something) is called "aggravated murder," a capital felony, in the state you live in.

And why isn't this considered aggravated murder? I would say that the premeditated act of calmly unloading one's revolver twice to kill someone at short range qualifies...

Why are custody battles allowed to get ugly? This is the second shooting I have heard of over a custody battle in the recent past. Something needs to change.

To me, justice is not a process of arrest, Miranda-reading, charging, plea-bargaining or trial, jury verdict and sentencing. "Justice" is served when the "appropriate" consequence is meted out to someone who does something "wrong." (I've put quotes around those words that are crucial for a society to define, but whose definition is frequently different for different people.)

Our justice system is DESIGNED to serve justice, but, being of human design and operation, it sometimes falls short of reaching its goal. Nevertheless, the process is a matter of public interest and concern, both to see that justice is served and to strive to comprehend the reason for the commission of the crime.

While I am often relieved when the police shoot a violent criminal in the initial response to the crime (giving the perpetrator "what he deserved" and saving society the time, money and effort of a drawn-out trial), if there is no arraignment, questioning and trial, then crimes remain truly senseless.

But I agree with "Me" who noted that the teacher already got the "death penalty" inflicted by the shooter. A life sentence does not make sense to me, either.

Isn't it 15 to life now, instead of 5 to life, thanks to "Lori's law?"

She sacrificed her life so that her son would have custody of his children. Now that is love.

Someone,
It happens to be her sons ex wife.
Over a fight with who gets those two children..

Have Mercy,
such a sad tale and over/hate/marriage divorce&Who gets children~

Please Photoshop the photo so we don't have to see the suspect's gut hanging out.