PRESS RELEASE
Office of the Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, December 5, 2005

Statement from Governor Ehrlich Regarding the Execution of Wesley Baker

ANNAPOLIS – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., today issued the following statement regarding the execution of Wesley E. Baker.

“Three years ago, I pledged to personally conduct an exhaustive and objective review of every capital case that reached my desk. I take this responsibility very seriously, and have fulfilled my commitment to the citizens of Maryland with respect to Mr. Baker.

“Mr. Baker was sentenced to death by a judge for the 1991 murder of Jane Tyson in the parking lot of Westview Mall in Baltimore County. Mr. Baker was convicted of shooting Mrs. Tyson in the head while she and her two grandchildren - then 4 and 6 years old - were leaving the mall.

“I have personally reviewed all relevant information about Mr. Baker, his crimes, and the circumstances surrounding his crimes. I appreciate the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the arguments presented to me on Mr. Baker’s behalf. After a thorough review of the request for clemency, the facts pertinent to this petition, and the judicial opinions regarding this case, I decline to intervene. My sympathies tonight lie with the families of all those involved in this heinous and brutal crime.”

Under Article II, Section 20 of the Maryland Constitution, the Governor may grant reprieves and pardons. Early in his administration, Governor Ehrlich instituted a deliberative process for all actions of clemency.

In Wesley Baker’s case, this process included, among other endeavors:

  1. an invitation to counsel on both sides of the matter, via letter, for any new, unstated, or underestimated factors in the legal case;

  2. preliminary briefings from legal counsel;

  3. the Governor’s personal review (and analysis through legal counsel) of the Petition for Commutation of November 28, 2005 and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s response thereto;

  4. a briefing on the protocol;

  5. monitoring and reviewing the final court proceedings over the last few weeks;

  6. a thoughtful and compassionate review of all aspects of the case in consideration of the views on both sides of the issue; and

  7. the Governor’s final decision.

read more press releases