When Death Row Inmates Request to Die

Do the Courts Have the Right to Assist in Their Self Assisted Suicide?

A South Dakota man Elijah Page was scheduled to be executed by the state of South Dakota in August of 2006. Page was a convicted killer, who tortured his victim Chester Allen Poage before brutally beating him to death. There were two other codefendants in the case, Briley Piper, who is also on death row, and Darryl Hoadley who was sentenced to life.

According to Associated Press and court testimony, "Hoadley said Page and Piper planned to steal a stereo, a television and other property from Poage's mother's house in Spearfish. A prosecutor said Poage was killed so there would be no witness.

Hoadley said Piper stabbed Poage three times in the head and neck, and Page kicked Poage 30 to 40 times in the head, tearing his ears off, then hit him on the head with large rocks.

Hoadley said he hit Poage with two large rocks near the end of the attack, which lasted at least two hours. He said he was afraid Piper and Page would kill him if he interfered or tried to leave."

Elijah Page had a long history of abuse as a child, and was often molested as a child for drug money. Neighbors of the family testified in court on his behalf, and at one point were gathering together to get the Page children removed from the house.Warren Johnson, the judge who presided over Page's punishment trial, stated, "Most parents treated their pets better than your parents treated you." The millions of dollars spent on the death penalty system could be much better spent on treating and preventing drug use, which may have spared Page a twisted childhood and saved the life of Allan Poage.

Page did not ask for a stay of execution, instead he informed the courts in writing that he wished to drop all appeals, and dismiss his attorneys. He in short wanted the state of South Dakota to execute him. His attorneys asked to have him evaluated. There were problems with using the lethal injection method that had to be resolved and Page eventually got a stay of execution until July 1, 2007.