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    rafanooHamilton Nolan
    5/23/14 12:48pm

    Hamilton, do you ever get bummed out that the comments section for each of these contains the same bullshit every. single. time?

    Is there a way you could present these so that we might actually get interesting commenting, such as explaining the intentions of the series at the top each time, even though regular Gawker readers already know? Or do you not like the idea of presenting the material that way, or think it wouldn't make a difference?

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      RogueMandarafanoo
      5/23/14 1:20pm

      I understand the intent behind the series, I just think he's getting some seriously poor fodder for it. You're going to have a hard time convincing people to agree that the death penalty sucks by making them read letters from people who agree that it sucks, but who do not seem to agree that it sucks when OTHER people are murdered.

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      Hamilton Nolanrafanoo
      5/23/14 1:36pm

      Yes, I do find the comment sections on these to be generally revolting, but part of giving someone a chance to speak to the public is the fact that the public will also speak back. This is true of anyone who writes anything for public consumption, death row inmate or not. I try to present these in as straightforward and unadorned fashion as I can.

      I guess it's not "bullshit comments" that bums me out as much as "America's general blood lust."

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    Girl in OregonHamilton Nolan
    5/23/14 12:14pm

    I can't tell you how pissed off I get when prisoners who've committed atrocious crimes and/or murder somehow believe that by turning to God, they are some how redeemed in full. Where are all the atheists on death row?!

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      lonesanefloridianGirl in Oregon
      5/23/14 12:18pm

      That's a really good question. WTF is with that? There have to be some people on death row or facing death row that haven't gone that route...?

      Maybe they just don't write letters to gawker?

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      Girl in Oregonlonesanefloridian
      5/23/14 12:22pm

      Something about his letter does not sit well with me, and I'm quite certain it's his belief that God has forgiven him/has a plan for him. I remember reading Jasper's death row letter and it was candid and morbidly depressing. You couldn't help but feel connected to him. This is just, well, the same 'ol, "i'm forgiven so to hell with all of you."

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    BrtStlndHamilton Nolan
    5/23/14 12:14pm

    "Trottie then found Barbara in a rear bedroom and shot her six more times in front of seven children. He then returned to the living room and shot Titus execution-style in the back of the head."

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      BigTonyTBrtStlnd
      5/23/14 12:16pm

      they should kill this guy then bring him back so they can kill him again

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    OMG!PONIES!Hamilton Nolan
    5/23/14 1:08pm

    I think the real question is whether he did it?

    According to the police report, Mr. Trottie threatened to kill Barbara Canada and then, in violation of a protective order designed to protect Ms. Canada from Mr. Trottie, proceeded to go to her home, break down the door, and then open fire on Ms. Canada and her family. He reported killed Ms. Canada along with her brother, Titus.

    As reported, he shot Ms. Canada six times in front of her children and then proceeded to shoot Titus in a deliberate fashion.

    So, is this accurate? Did Mr. Trottie do this?

    Because, if he did, then yes, I'd say that execution is a fair punishment for two premeditated murder, brutally carried out in front of the decedents' family.

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      GregorMendelHamilton Nolan
      5/23/14 6:50pm

      Interesting Texas Death Row fact: Polunsky used to be called, "Terrell." Mr. Terrell was a former warden who had a maximum security unit named in his honor. At that time, Texas Death Row inmates were housed in "The Walls," which is the nickname of the old, red brick main unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. After an escape in which (I think) two offenders died, Death Row was moved to Terrell, a newer unit. Mr. Terrell was not happy about that. He asked that his name be removed from the unit as he did not want his name associated with Death Row. The Terrell name was subsequently given to another unit elsewhere.

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        misshuxtableHamilton Nolan
        5/23/14 12:17pm

        Wow reading exactly what he did is so sad. He believed he owned this woman 's life to the point that because she did not return to him by the date he set, he killed her in her mother's house in front of 7 children as well as her brother. He remains unapologetic and wants us to hear "his side" after 21 years of time to fucking think things over wow.

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          acornmisshuxtable
          5/23/14 12:54pm

          Yeah, I have no sympathy for this man whatsoever. At all. And I wish more of these 'reformed' criminals realized that a key part of receiving grace or forgiveness is through genuine remorse and repentance. The fact that he not once takes responsibility for the awful things he has done just makes me glad he'll never be a part of the normal population again. I mean the line "...when I lost my beloved wife..." just kills me. Don't you mean, "when I took the life of/brutally murdered my wife..." I mean, it's not like you were just a bystander or she died of an illness. You killed her and her brother in front of children. This is not something just happened to you - you did it.

          However, despite all that, I still remain staunchly opposed to the death penalty. But this is more of a selfish point than in any great concern for criminals like this man. I just don't want to be party to the killing of any human being and since the execution of criminals are done in the name of the state, aka the citizens living in that state, I am very happy I live in a state that does not have capital punishment.

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          misshuxtableacorn
          5/23/14 1:03pm

          I can understand that definitely . I find myself on the fence because while I find it hard to kill someone what is the option for an individual like this who after 21 years still says "when I lost my BELOVED wife" (just him using that word makes me cringe), and absolves himself of true responsibility? I dont know you know. I just don't understand how 1 human being can cause so much damage

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        DisagreeWithMeHamilton Nolan
        5/23/14 12:34pm

        "Forgive, as you'd want to be forgiven."

        Murder, as you'd want to be murdered. I guess it's fine when you are out and murdering people, but as soon as someone tries to murder you back it's wrong. At least his murder will likely be a little more humane than that of the people he gunned down.

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          bpl2DisagreeWithMe
          5/23/14 1:56pm

          I disagree with you. Dangling over someone's head for twenty plus years the fact that you're going to kill them eventually can't be described as humane by any meaning of the word.

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          DisagreeWithMebpl2
          5/23/14 2:10pm

          I meant the actual death part would be humane, he won't be sitting there bleeding out not knowing what he did to deserve it. I think this guy's punishment fits the crime, he killed few people and injured a couple more. I agree with you, we should have killed this guy years ago, but he was supposed to suffer as he cause others to suffer. They took away his life for 20+ years, and now they are going to finish the job. You don't want to die like this, don't kill people.

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        dizzzzzzidHamilton Nolan
        5/23/14 3:08pm

        I know this will not go over well.... but I'm amazed at the lack of compassion people have. People are so quick to put this man (and others) one step below dirt which in my opinion shows their mind is in a comparable state to a murder's (as far as one can speculate about the contents of others minds of course) where a human life is reduced to being meaningless. How can one sit there and think as little of a man as he did of the person(s) he killed while being ignorant of the hypocrisy?

        To be clear, I am not protesting the reality of his situation, he committed unspeakable acts and will face the penalties as decided by "the law". This does not mean however that there is no room for compassion for him, he is still a human being and aside from the moment in time that he made the decision to kill someone, there is little difference between him and the people spewing hate.

        I'm glad you gave him a platform for his mind to be spoke HamNo, thanks!

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          aztec1dizzzzzzid
          5/23/14 4:21pm

          I like this comparison, interesting perspective that really makes me think. The distinction between "he deserves to die" vs actually murdering people is where the disparity in compassion comes from. To take your viewpoint a step further, where was his compassion when he murdered these people? Does that make him more or less deserving of yours?

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          dizzzzzzidaztec1
          5/23/14 4:56pm

          That's what I was getting at is that people's lack of compassion towards him has parallels (obviously not the exact same) as his lack of compassion for his victims. They are as willing to see him die has he was willing to see his victim die. So no I do not think that his actions exempt him from compassion, Respect? Most likely yes. But compassion, no. He is a human being, floundering his way through life just like the rest of us. He has hopes, fears, passions, regrets, insecurities just like every single person in the entire world. To assume that we have it all figured out, therefore giving us the right to condemn him to being unworthy of the compassion (I think) is deserved of all life, is just arrogant.

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        watchawatchawantHamilton Nolan
        5/23/14 12:11pm

        If I ever happened to murder two people , I would not be surprised if people didn't forgive me.

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          watchawatchawantwatchawatchawant
          5/23/14 12:21pm

          This link tells a bit of what happened for anyone curious. Also contains a photo of the guy smiling just as alive as ever, unlike his two victims (injured two others as well). http://murderpedia.org/male.T/t/trott…

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          CurrentSensorStatuswatchawatchawant
          5/23/14 1:10pm

          He looks way too happy for someone in a "living hell."

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        DickFromageHamilton Nolan
        5/23/14 12:20pm

        ".........................................................."

        - Barbara & Titus Canada's rebuttal letter.

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