DEATH PENALTY SENDS A SIGNAL

The trial in Scott County of Andrew Lyons, who was accused of the grisly murders of his girlfriend, their baby and the girlfriend's mother, ended with a guilty verdict and a jury-imposed death sentence. While such decisions are never easy, the jury sent a clear message that such wanton criminal activity won't be tolerated.

During the court proceedings at the courthouse in Benton, Lyons was depicted as suicidal and suffering from severe depression. Indeed, he had been held in a state mental health facility since the killings in September 1992.

It is a wonder that Lyons ever came to trial, given the all-too-frequent scenario of insanity pleas and confinement to mental hospitals in cases of violent murders. But even the defense expert said Lyons' mental problems fell short of statutory requirements for finding him legally insane.

Given the brutality of the murders, which took place in Cape Girardeau, and the trial testimony, the jurors did what the believed was in the best interest of justice and of the residents of this area.