Nebraska 2004

Sentenced to death in Douglas County, Nebraska

By: A three-judge panel after a jury had found aggravating circumstances

Date of crime: November 2000

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Gales strangled and sexually assaulted 13-year-old Latara Chandler and her 7-year-old brother Tramar, and beat their mother Judy almost to death. Gales maintained his innocence. He had previously been convicted of armed sexual battery in 1986. At the penalty phase the defense presented evidence of Gales’ good behavior in prison.

Prosecutor(s): Don Kleine

Defense lawyer(s): Susan Bazis

Sources: Omaha World-Herald 10/23/03 (2003 WL 5284524), 10/23/03 (2003 WL 5284557), 10/31/03 (2003 WL 5285230), 12/4/03 (2003 WL 5288103), 12/9/03 (2003 WL 5288475), 12/10/03 (2003 WL 5288601)

Sentenced to death in Madison County, Nebraska

By: A three-judge panel after a jury had found aggravating circumstances

Date of crime: 9/26/2002

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Galindo and three other men robbed a bank and killed four employees and one customer. Galindo shot Lola Elwood, a bank employee, after he asked her if she had pulled the alarm. The ringleader, Jose Sandoval, shot the other three employees and one customer. The men killed five people in less than a minute and left the bank without any money. In mitigation, the defense argued Galindo did not know what he was doing because he was on methamphetamine, and was dominated by Sandoval. The defense also claimed Galindo’s life should be spared because he cooperated with police.

Prosecutor(s): Joe Smith

Defense lawyer(s): Doug Stratton

Sources: Omaha World Herald 6/9/04 (2004 WL 60555871), 10/14/04 (2004 WL 60572862), 10/16/04 (2004 WL 60573227), 11/10/04(2004 WL 60577144)