Brian Dorsey pleaded guilty to the murder of his cousin and her husband in 2006.
Dorsey took items belonging to the daughter of the victims and turned himself in after learning police were looking for him.
Brian Dorsey, a man who pleaded guilty to the murder of his cousin and her husband in 2006, is scheduled for execution on Tuesday. The only thing that stood between him and the death penalty were two state-appointed attorneys who were each paid $12,000 flat fees to defend him at trial. Dorsey took items belonging to the daughter of the victims and turned himself in after learning police were looking for him.
Dorsey has a pristine disciplinary record during his 17 years on death row and has written support of more than 70 prison staff members. The crime was committed two days before Christmas in 2006 when Dorsey's cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband were taken in by Dorsey because a pair of drug dealers were threatening him to collect on his debt. Dorsey shot the couple with their own shotgun while he was in a psychotic state from not sleeping for 72 hours while on a crack bender.
Dorsey took items belonging to the daughter of the victims and turned himself in after learning police were looking for him.
Dorsey has a pristine disciplinary record during his 17 years on death row and has written support of more than 70 prison staff members.
The crime was committed two days before Christmas in 2006 when Dorsey's cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband were taken in by Dorsey because a pair of drug dealers were threatening him to collect on his debt. Dorsey shot the couple with their own shotgun while he was in a psychotic state from not sleeping for 72 hours while on a crack bender.
Dorsey took items belonging to the daughter of the victims and turned himself in after learning police were looking for him.
Accuracy
Dorsey shot the couple with their own shotgun while he was in a psychotic state from not sleeping for 72 hours while on a crack bender.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied clemency for death row inmate Brian Dorsey, who pleaded guilty to murdering Ben and Sarah Bonnie in 2006.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article is biased towards executing Brian Dorsey. The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes Dorsey by referring to him as a 'psychotic state' who shot his cousin and her husband while in a drug-induced psychosis. Additionally, the author dismisses any evidence presented by Dorsey's attorneys regarding his rehabilitation, stating that it is irrelevant to the case at hand.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) has denied the last-minute attempt to stay the execution of Brian Dorsey
The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
None Found At Time Of
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Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Brian Dorsey's execution as he is reporting on Missouri Governor Mike Parson who signed the death penalty sentence for Dorsey. The article also mentions Sarah Bonnie and Ben Bonnie, who are likely related to Parson.
The governor has been a staunch supporter of capital punishment in Missouri.
Dozens of correctional workers urged Gov. Mike Parson to commute the death sentence of Brian Dorsey.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has not blocked an execution since he took office in 2018.
Accuracy
Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied clemency for death row inmate Brian Dorsey.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, states that carrying out Dorsey's sentence according to Missouri law and court order will deliver justice and provide closure. This statement implies that his decision is based solely on legal considerations rather than any moral or ethical principles.
]The pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified, but carrying out Dorsey’s sentence according to Missouri law and the court’s order will deliver justice and provide closure,” said Mr. Parson[
Mr. Parson of Missouri has not blocked an execution since he took office in 2018.
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article is Mitch Smith and he has a history of being biased towards law enforcement. The article mentions that more than 70 correctional workers urged Gov. Mike Parson to commute Brian Dorsey's death sentence, which could be seen as an attempt to sway public opinion in favor of clemency for the convicted murderer. Additionally, the author quotes former officer Timothy Lancaster who argues against executing Dorsey because he has changed his ways and earned respect from prison guards. This quote may be interpreted as a form of sympathy or empathy towards Dorsey's situation, which could also contribute to bias in favor of clemency.
Executing Dorsey would dishonor the hard work he has done to fulfill that objective
The very concept of corrections implies that we want incarcerated people to change their ways
Missouri paid two lawyers $12,000 each to defend Brian Dorsey. If they had worked 3,557 hours (the average time spent by defense lawyers in death penalty cases), they would have earned $3.37 per hour.
Paying lawyers a flat fee is common practice across the legal system but has attracted criticism when a life is at stake.
Death sentences imposed under these systems often say more about external funding limitations placed on counsel than nature of crime or defendant's culpability.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in its portrayal of the payment system for lawyers defending death penalty cases. The author implies that paying lawyers a flat fee creates an incentive to work less and earn more per hour, which is not necessarily true. Additionally, the author uses sensationalism by stating that Dorsey's argument requires 'math familiar to any gig worker', when in fact it does not.
The article implies that paying lawyers a flat fee creates an incentive to work less and earn more per hour.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing a report commissioned by the federal courts without providing any context or evidence for its validity. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the perverse incentive created by paying lawyers a flat fee in death penalty cases, which could be seen as sensationalizing the issue.
The article cites a 2010 report commissioned by the federal courts without providing any context or evidence for its validity.
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the perverse incentive created by paying lawyers a flat fee in death penalty cases, which could be seen as sensationalizing the issue.
Bias
(85%)
The author uses the analogy of gig workers to explain how Missouri paid Dorsey's lawyers too little. The author also quotes a scholar and lawyer who argue that paying lawyers a flat fee creates an incentive for them to work less in order to earn more per hour. This is an example of monetary bias.
If they had worked 3,557 hours the average time spent by defense lawyers in death penalty cases, according to a 2010 report commissioned by the federal courts , then they would have each earned $3.37 per hour.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
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Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author Maurice Chammah and Keri Blakinger have a conflict of interest on the topic of execution as they are reporting on Brian Dorsey's case in Missouri. The article mentions that some counties in California paid flat fees to lawyers for death cases for decades, which could be seen as an endorsement or support for this practice. Additionally, the Marshall Project and Los Angeles Times review of court filings and media reports found they paved the way to death row for at least 20 people in the last four decades.
The article mentions that some counties in California paid flat fees to lawyers for death cases for decades, which could be seen as an endorsement or support for this practice. Additionally, the Marshall Project and Los Angeles Times review of court filings and media reports found they paved the way to death row for at least 20 people in the last four decades.
Dozens of Missouri Department of Corrections staff members urged Gov. Mike Parson to grant Dorsey clemency.
His former coach also wrote a letter advocating for Dorsey's life.
Accuracy
Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied clemency for death row inmate Brian Dorsey.
Brian Joseph Dorsey has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put off his execution looming on April 9.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author states that Brian Dorsey has shown he has been rehabilitated and asks if his execution violates the Eighth Amendment. However, there is no evidence presented to support this claim of rehabilitation. Secondly, the article quotes a statement from Dorsey's legal team stating that his execution would serve no legitimate penological purpose which contradicts previous statements made by Missouri Department of Corrections staff members and Dorsey's former coach who urged for clemency. Lastly, the author uses emotional manipulation by including details about the victims and their families without providing any context or perspective on Dorsey's actions.
The article states that Brian Dorsey has shown he has been rehabilitated but provides no evidence to support this claim.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the Missouri Supreme Court's rejection of a stay of execution for Brian Dorsey. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the petition as concerning a person who has shown he has been rehabilitated and asking if his execution violates the Eighth Amendment.
The Missouri Supreme Court denied a stay of execution for Brian Dorsey.
Bias
(75%)
The author of the article is biased towards Brian Dorsey's rehabilitation and his right to life. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who oppose Dorsey's release such as 'Missouri Department of Corrections staff members urged Gov. Mike Parson to grant Dorsey clemency'. This statement implies that the majority of people working in the corrections system are against Dorsey and his rehabilitation, which is not true. The author also uses language like 'serves no legitimate penological purpose' when referring to executing Brian Dorsey, implying that there is a higher moral ground for those who oppose capital punishment.
Missouri Department of Corrections staff members urged Gov. Mike Parson to grant Dorsey clemency
The only thing that stood between Brian Joseph Dorsey and the death penalty were two state-appointed attorneys who were each paid a $12,000 flat fee to defend him at trial.
Dorsey took items belonging to the daughter of the victims and turned himself in after learning police were looking for him.
Accuracy
Dorsey's lawyers failed to investigate mitigating factors such as Dorsey's mental illness and drug abuse, and instead convinced him to plead guilty to first-degree murder charges without getting assurances from prosecutors that they wouldn't seek the death penalty.
Missouri Gov. Michael L. Parson is considering a separate petition for clemency Dorsey filed last month.
Federal public defenders representing Dorsey asked the justices to issue a stay and argued in a certiorari petition that the flat-fee structure created a conflict of interest -a financial incentive for his trial attorneys to provide constitutionally deficient representation.
The way that Mr. Dorsey ended up on death row is particularly egregious, it's an indictment of the criminal justice system to execute a man whose attorneys were clearly laboring under a conflict of interest... It so clearly affected his representation.
Dorsey never disputed killing his cousin and her husband, the victims' bodies were found in their bed with gunshot wounds.
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies that the flat-fee arrangement for legal representation was a factor in Brian Joseph Dorsey's conviction and subsequent death penalty sentence. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. The article also quotes Arin Melissa Brenner of the Federal Public Defenders Office stating that Mr. Dorsey ended up on death row due to his attorneys being under a conflict of interest, which was caused by the flat-fee arrangement. This statement is not supported by any facts presented in the article and therefore cannot be considered true.
The article implies that Brian Joseph Dorsey's conviction and subsequent death penalty sentence were due to his attorneys being under a conflict of interest, which was caused by the flat-fee arrangement. However, there is no evidence to support this claim.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article is biased towards Brian Joseph Dorsey's claim that his state-appointed attorneys failed to investigate mitigating factors and instead convinced him to plead guilty. The author uses language such as 'indictment of the criminal justice system', which implies a negative bias against it, and quotes Arin Melissa Brenner from the Federal Public Defenders representing Dorsey who also expresses a similar sentiment.
It's an indictment of the criminal justice system to execute a man whose attorneys were clearly laboring under a conflict of interest ... It so clearly affected his representation. It's a travesty.
The way that Mr. Dorsey ended up on death row is particularly egregious
