Teresa Lewis was executed by lethal injection for her crime

The first woman since 1912 to be sentenced to death in the state of Virginia, was executed yesterday for the murder of her husband and stepson. In 2002, 41-year-old Teresa Lewis persuaded hit men using sex and money to kill her two family members in order to get her hands on her husbands life insurance. The Grandma, who has learning difficulties, pleaded guilty to the murders even though her legal team argued that she was incapable of planning and pursuing a crime of this nature.

This case of execution is not only rare because it was a woman but also unusual because of the circumstances in which the murders took place, including the low IQ of Lewis which had been at the forefront of the defence case. Lewis bought the guns and ammunition for the hit men and also left the door open when the attack took place.

The two hit men, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller both received life sentences for shooting Julian, 51, and Charles Lewis, 25. Lewis’ defence argued that she did not have the intelligence to round up and persuade two men to carry out the murders. The legal team behind Lewis accused Shallenberger – who killed himself in prison in 2006 – of being the brains behind the crime and of manipulating Lewis, whom he had a sexual relationship with. Her lawyer James E. Rocap III said, “…it was grossly unfair to impose the death sentence on her while Shallenberger and Fuller received life sentences”.

Lewis has an IQ of 72 and a number of medical assessments had been carried out on her, none of which showed she was mentally retarded, although she has been diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder. The U.S. Supreme Court and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell chose not to delay actions in the execution despite thousands of attempts to appeal which had been sent to the Governor. However, in the end, even her legal team admitted that all her appeals had been exhausted.

Teresa Lewis was executed by lethal injection at 21.13 last night while relatives of the victims watched at Greensville Correctional Center in Virginia – one of which was her step daughter who watched from a seperate room. This is the first execution of a woman in Virginia in over 100 years and it has caused uproar around the world. Campaigners had argued that she was “borderline mentally retarded” and therefore it was unethical to go through with the execution.

Teresa Lewis asked for fried chicken breasts and sweet peas with butter for her last meal, with a slice of either apple pie or german cake and a dr pepper to wash it down.

Theresa Riggi and children

 A woman who has been charged with murdering her three children is set to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court today for the first time. Theresa Riggi is suspected of killing her two twins Austin and Luke, eight as well as her daughter Cecilia, five.

 The three children were found in a flat on Stateford Road, after police were alerted to a small gas explosion. The following post-mortem examination revvealed the children did not die as a result of the gas leak or small fire.  

 Mrs Riggi was admitted into hospital after she fell off the balcony of the home where the children were found.

 Because of her medical condition she was unable to attend court for her original hearing. She was charged with murder at a private hearing, which was held at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on the August 24.

The children’s father, Pasquale Riggi, 46 spoke of his loss in a statement to the BBC. He said : “It’s been shocking. You are paralysed with grief. The hardest moment was when I first found out. Your life is all about your children. In one instant that’s gone.”

During this statement he did not mention his wife.

He added that the support he had received from around the world had been important in getting him through this traumatic time. He said: “I am doing pretty well, because I have had my closest friends and family around me”.

By Grace Boyle

Royal rescue – Prince William will start as a co-pilot for RAF missions from the Valley airbase on Anglesey

Prince William admits his training to qualify as an RAF search and rescue pilot has been “challenging”.
The prince, known as Flt Lt William Wales, graduates after a 19-month programme at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

“The course has been challenging, but I have enjoyed it immensely,” The Prince said.

He will spend the next three years at the base flying rescue missions, potentially all over the UK.

At Friday’s ceremony Prince William and fellow trainees will receive certificates and squadron badges.

During his training the prince has taken part in a number of simulated rescue missions over the Irish Sea, the Atlantic and in the mountains of Snowdonia.

The RAF has insisted that no concessions have been made to him because of his royal status and that he has passed the training course on merit.

The prince said ahead of the informal ceremony with six fellow trainees at the base: “I am really delighted to have completed the training course with my fellow students.

I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honour to serve operationally with the search and rescue force, helping to provide such a vital emergency service.”

Prince William has completed 70 hours of live flying plus 50 hours of simulator training to learn how to manoeuvre the Seaking helicopter to the exacting standards demanded by his role – and the RAF.

He will now take up his place as a member of a four-man rescue crew, initially as a co-pilot.

While on duty he will live on the base, in preparation to deal with emergency calls.

“You are exposed to your weaknesses and therefore have to adapt.

The crews have to work with you as a team – there is nowhere to hide in the crew of a helicopter.”

The 1000 BST graduation is not classed as a passing out parade and so will be more informal than previous ‘wings ceremonies.’

It will be a number of weeks before he starts his first 24-hour shift as he will have to undergo “acceptance” – learning the terrain and landing sites.

But the RAF has also warned that any time-wasters making bogus calls in the hope of catching a glimpse of the pilot prince could find themselves landed with a hefty bill to cover the enormous cost of every single search and rescue operation.