Murderer doesn't deserve second chance

I am writing in response to your Aug. 7 article, "Killer Wants to Undo Guilty Plea." I have read this article repeatedly, and am absolutely heartsick that Mr. Deng believes he should be shown leniency for his actions.

I had the privilege of working with Marilyn Bethel as she performed her internship to become a substance abuse treatment counselor. Although I did not know her well personally, professionally she was a joy to work with. Smart, funny, with a heart for helping others. That she had to die this way is a tragedy, but that her killer is making a mockery of our legal system is a profound insult to her family, her friends, and her memory.

How can this young man blame others for an act that was proved - without doubt - he committed? He was found guilty of first degree murder. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison, which is at least 35 years longer than Marilyn was given to live. And today he challenges his sentence? Saying that he was under the impression that this sentence was negotiable and that because he and his mother were Sudanese immigrants with limited English skills that they were forced to become totally dependent upon their legal counsel who according to him, led them astray?

I don't care how limited your language skills may be or where you immigrated from. The language of murder is universal. And the taking of another person's life - particularly where it was absolutely unprovoked and premeditated - should not be without consequence. As was repeatedly brought up following his arrest for Marilyn Bethel's murder, Mr. Deng has lived a selfishly depraved, troubled life since he arrived in the United States, and this only takes into consideration his actions as a juvenile before graduating to murder. Every possible legal action should be taken to ensure that his sentence is upheld and that he spends every second of it incarcerated.

Lisa Snipes

Addison