In Pursuit of Fair Punishment by Annie Dishchyan
In June 1999, Brandon Bernard was given the death sentence for his involvement in the murder of Todd and Stacie Bagley. He was one of the 5 teenagers that were accused of killing them. He was sentenced to death since he was 18 at the time of the crime, but others involved in the incident were given prison sentences since they were under 18. He was an accomplice, and did not have a leading role in the crime. Lawyers and advocates for Bernard are arguing that he should be given life in prison without parole, since he was so young when the crime took place. Throughout his 21 years in prison, Brandon has been a model citizen, and spends his time helping at risk youth. 5 of the 9 surviving jurors from the original case have said the death penalty is not necessary. Today, powerful figures like Kim Kardashian West are asking the Trump administration to halt the execution of Brandon Bernard that is supposed to occur on December 10th, 2020. -Annie Dishchyan