Shooter
Expresses
No Remorse For Gunning Down Pro-life Activist
Closing arguments in progress in Harlan Drake murder trial
The Defense has rested and closing arguments are now underway as of
this writing in the murder case of Harlan Drake, the man accused of
gunning down pro-life activist Jim Pouillon, gravel pit owner Mike
Fuoss, and planning the murder of a third man.
Drake took the stand in his own defense and told how he felt no remorse
for the killings, yet believed that he deserved to die or be locked
away for what he did.
Drake said that he targeted Pouillon because he and his mother disliked
Pouillon's graphic sign that he used while protesting abortion.
He planned the night before to kill Pouillon if he found him protesting
at Owosso High School the following day.
After shooting Pouillon several times, Drake said he pulled up and make
the final shot up through the rib cage into the heart, because he saw
that Pouillon was still moving.
Drake then told the court how he decided that since he had already
killed one man, he might as well kill the other men that he believed
needed to be shot that day. Police arrested Drake after he killed
Fuoss, and before he could kill his final victim.
While in jail, Drake asked to view the autopsy photos. "I asked to see
the autopsy reports so I could see what my aim was like," Drake told
the court.
Drake discussed how he had been involved in a fatal traffic accident in
2004, where two teens died. He blamed himself for their deaths even
though the accident was not his fault. After shooting Pouillon and
Fuoss, he considered killing himself, but did not want to make a mess
in his wife's pickup truck. Drake later attempted to slash his wrists
while in police custody.
Prosecution rebuttal witnesses included a forensic psychologist who
testified that Drake's actions indicated that he had an understanding
of the "the nature, the quality and the wrongfulness" of his actions,
therefore did not meet the threshold of criminal insanity.
Drake's
attorneys have argued that Drake was insane at the time of the murders.
Pouillon's daughter, Mary Jo, indicated that she was "struck" by
Drake's lack of remorse and his comments that he did not want to hurt
anyone who had not wronged him.
"He didn't want to hurt anyone that hadn't hurt him or his family, well
that was unsuccessful because I am very hurt by it," she said.
Since Michigan has no death penalty, Drake would face life in prison if
convicted.
Source:
Operation Rescue
Publish
Date:
March 10, 2010
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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.
