Interview with a Condemned Man: Carlton A. Turner

From His Death Row Cell in Texas, Carlton Speaks His Mind Just Weeks Before His Scheduled Execution

Carlton A. Turner sits in his death row cell, waiting to be executed. He has an execution date of July 10, 2008. Back in September of 2007 Turner "cheated" the executioner and was granted a stay of execution just hours before his scheduled execution. The Supreme Court was then ruling whether lethal injection was cruel and unusual. Since the ruling came back 7-2, that it was not, Texas has lined up over a dozen executions. Here is my interview with Carlton, as he speaks about his thoughts on prison and the death penalty, and his life and death.

Carlton, can you tell us about your conviction and how long you have been on death row? Are you guilty?

I have been convicted of Capital murder for the killing of 2 people in the process of robbery, of this charge I am not guilty. The first death came from a volatile situation which could have went either way in the end. Both were aggressors and defenders. I had the upper hand of the situation and happened to live. Either way, someone was to die at that moment. The second death was from psychological conditioning and stress. To put it simple, I blacked out as a controller of my actions. I knew what I was doing, but was not in control of my body until it was over. The taking of money was an afterthought. I knew this was the end so it did not matter whether money was stolen or not. The owners were no longer alive, so there was no sense in letting the state take it in the end. As harsh as it sounds, but my mentality at the time told me they wouldn't need it now and I needed a bit at the moment. It's not like I put it towards any long term investments and tried to get away with it. So, I am not guilty of Capital murder, but I am guilty of murder and robbery as an afterthought. If you still want to call that Capital murder, then that's just fine. It's all about perception. It doesn't change the fact that I have killed people.

What has the years on death row been like?