THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020520
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LAURA LAFAY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
State police investigating how a gun got into the typewriter of executed inmate Willie Lloyd Turner should also look into the ``propriety'' of allowing the Department of Corrections to investigate ``its own apparent major security breach,'' a group of Virginia defense attorneys said Thursday.
The ``scope and thoroughness'' of a 36-hour Department of Corrections probe should also be examined, the Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys said.
The defense attorneys also said Gov. George F. Allen and his administration should ``personally, publicly and immediately'' apologize for remarks they made about Turner's lawyer.
In a scathing three-page statement, the organization of about 325 lawyers denounced Allen for ``recklessly and maliciously'' calling the discovery of the gun ``an allegation'' that could have been a ``stunt'' by Turner's lawyer, Walter Walvick. The statement also criticized Ron Angelone, director of the Department of Corrections, for saying the discovery ``raised the possibility of an elaborate hoax.''
Walvick, a 52-year-old corporate lawyer with a Washington law firm, represented Turner free of charge for seven years.
Walvick is scheduled to be interviewed today by state police investigators who are conducting an inquiry into the gun incident on orders issued by Allen on Tuesday.
Walvick, who has agreed to take a lie detector test, discovered the gun in the typewriter about an hour after Turner's execution May 25.
While Walvick is not a member of the Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Allen administration's attacks on his integrity bode ill for all Virginia defense lawyers, said Andrew Sacks, a Norfolk lawyer who is president-elect of the group.
``If we're going to have to defend our clients and then turn around and be forced to defend ourselves against attacks by a sitting governor, I think the criminal justice system may be at a low watermark,'' Sacks said.
``How ironic that the governor of the birthplace (Virginia) of Washington and Jefferson would travel so far from the principles for which those founding fathers stood,'' Sacks said.
A spokesman for the Allen administration said the governor's office would have nothing to say in response to the defense attorneys' accusations and demands.
``There are a number of questions that have been raised, and that's why the entire matter is under state police investigation,'' Bill Cimino said Thursday.
``We will have no further comment on the investigation at this time. I will not comment or speculate on the outcome of the investigation or actions taken thereafter.''
Legislators also are weighing in on the investigation.
Members of the General Assembly have an ``obligation'' to monitor the state police handling of the matter, Sen. Richard Holland, D-Isle of Wight, said Thursday. Holland heads a Senate subcommittee that oversees prison financing.
``We need to exercise some oversight over this matter,'' he said. ``We can evaluate (the investigation) after it's concluded, and, if we're not satisfied, we can pursue some other steps.''
Holland spent an hour and a half with Angelone and three of his staffers Wednesday. He is considering calling corrections officials to testify before his subcommittee Thursday, he said.
``I told Director Angelone, I said, `It seems to me it's humanly impossible that a thorough investigation could be conducted in such a short period of time,' '' Holland said.
``I also stated that they were corrections people investigating corrections and the public is very reluctant to believe anything they say. I told them they should have called the state police first thing.''
Holland said Angelone told him that the serial number of the gun was filed off, but that a hidden serial number allowed officials to trace the gun to a now-defunct Roanoke gun shop. Officials estimate that the gun was purchased about 1954, he said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Andrew Saks
Walter Walvick
ASSOCIATED PRESS file photo/
Ron Angelone, director of the Department of Corrections, was
criticized by the College of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
KEYWORDS: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WILLIE LLOYD TURNER GUN TYPEWRITER
EXECUTION DEATH ROW VIRGINIA
by CNB