Death penalty sought in O.C. execution-style double murder
The Orange County district attorney's office said Monday it was seeking the death penalty for a Garden Grove man charged in the execution-style slaying of two people so he could steal a car.
Hilbert Pineil Thomas, 39, is charged in the February 2009 killings of Matthew Francis Scott and Elizabeth Ann Palmer. Both were shot in the head, prosecutors said.
Thomas wanted to steal Palmer's car and walked into Golden Sun Homes, a Stanton business, according to prosecutors. Thomas allegedly fled with Palmer's Lexus sedan.
In a statement, Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said the decision to seek the death penalty was based on factors including the gravity of the crime, the motivation for the crime and the background of the victims.
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-- Robert J. Lopez
Photo: Hilbert Pineil Thomas. Credit: Orange County district attorney's office
EDITOR'S PICKS:
What a joke, this slimeball will be in his 70's before he meet the syringe the way the California Death Row is going. He is probably glad that he will live longer than if he was in general population.
Posted by: Ron H | January 10, 2011 at 06:26 PM
"Do not hoard expensive, earthly possessions, wealth and materialism on earth, where corrosion and depreciation destroys and car jackers like black men Hilbert Thomas come to steal and kill. Rather, hoard, and keep treasures, and wealth in the kingdom of heaven, where neither corrosion destroys nor, car jackers, like Mr. Thomas steal and even kill. For wherever your treasures is, there your heart will always be."
Posted by: commentator | January 10, 2011 at 07:14 PM
The death penalty is just a sick joke the politicians of California play on the stupid voters. "Death Penalty? Why sure we have the death penalty!" They just have no intentions of using it. It's there to shut you people up.
Posted by: Richie | January 11, 2011 at 04:14 PM
"and the background of the victims."
GAVE ME BIG PAUSE..
CHOOSING THE DEATH PENALTY IS not to be done for politics or to appease some of the public but is to be ABOUT THE CRIME AND CRIMINAL.
Is this the correct choice made for the right reasons?
Posted by: macdoodle | January 11, 2011 at 11:04 PM