Murder Gets Probation and a Fine

This is about Mr Don M. Ayala, who shot and killed a handcuffed Abdul Salam, after Mr Salam doused US Anthropologist Paula Loyd, 36, with gasoline and set her on fire, burning her over 60% of her body and causing her death two months later.

The Washington Post article, by Josh White, can be found here.  Here is the case against Mr Ayala:

Prosecutors argued that Ayala, with decades of military experience, should have known that shooting Salam was illegal and should have been able to control himself.  Although prosecutors said Salam deserves no sympathy, they also argued that Ayala exacted illegal revenge on a then-incapacitated detainee. Salam's motive and potential terrorist co-conspirators will never be known because he was slain.

I agree.  That said, the Judge ensured that the point was made that what Mr Ayala did was wrong, by giving Mr Ayala a suspended sentence and a fine of $12,500.  That is a lot tougher than what a lot of drunk drivers in Massachusetts get.

In looking at this case, we need to keep in mind that Abdul Salam decided that he needed to act against Ms Loyd and murdered her in a slow and painful way. Perhaps it was in a fit of passion.  Perhaps it was cold and calculating.  Either way, Paula Loyd died.  If Mr Ayala had not killed him, Mr Salam should have been tried for torture and murder, and if found guilty, put away for a very long time and then his body returned to his family.

Regards  —  Cliff