The following is an update by Ron Honberg, on Brent Ullery, who became
violent as a result of his schiz and committed murder. Thanks to all who
wrote about this:

I heard this morning that the Judge in Oklahoma unfortunately issued
the death penalty in Brent's case.   In sentencing Brent, he spoke at
some length of his recognition of Brent's severe mental illness,
alluding specifically to the hundreds of letters he had received from
throughout the U.S. and overseas about the case.   (these letters
were of course generated through your E-Mails(note: DJ's readers also
sent letters-bc)).

According to Ron Dahlgren, Brent's father, the Judge spoke of the suffering
of both  families (the victim's family and the Dahlgrens) and made the
statement that "none of this would have occurred had the mental
health system done its job."   He also acknowledged some uncertainty
about the extent to which mental illness should be viewed as a
mitigating factor, but apparently concluded that this is a matter for
another court to decide.    I'm not the world's ranking expert on
death penalty jurisprudence, but it seems to me that the judge was
trying to create a record that could, in conjunction with other
circumstances, serve as a basis for an appeal of the death sentence.

The good news is that the state has apparently done a sudden about
face and decided that Brent should be sent back to Colorado where he
can receive treatment in the San Carlos forensic facility
(reportedly, a state of the art, maximum security, treatment facility
within the Colorado Dept. of Corrections) as opposed to MacCallister
maximum security prison in Oklahoma, which, from all reports, is a
hell-hole.   You may recall that I spoke at length a couple of weeks
ago with the court appointed public defender representing Brent,
Debbie Maddux, who was pessimistic about the state agreeing to send
Brent back to Colorado and suggested that a grassroots advocacy
campaign emananting from the Oklahoma AMI might be in order following
sentencing.    This may not be necessary at this juncture.

Stuart Broad and I are working with the Dahlgren's to find a good
appellate attorney to handle what will probably involve multiple
layers of appeal.    Meanwhile, I'll update you with further info. as
it comes available.

D.J., I really think that the E-Mail campaign may have made a
difference in this case.

One more piece of info.   I heard also from Dixie Reding this morning
who says that the Oklahoma City Newspaper is finally talking about
Brent's mental illness.   Of course, too late to be helpful to Brent.

Ron
======================================================================
Also, From Deana Glenn - Friend of Jackie Dahlgren (Mother of Brent)

Brian,

Judge Heatherington upheld the jury's recommendation for the death sentence
and he set the exucution by lethel injection date for August.  Judge
Heatherington said after receiving so many letters on Brent's behalf he is
very concerned about our health care system letting our mentally ill fall
through the cracks.  He also stated the question of exucuting a mentally ill
person is for another day in another court.
 
Brent's attorneys presented an affidavit to the judge which said a son of one
of the jurors told him before the trial started that she would do everything
she could to convince the other jurors to give Brent the death penalty.  The
judge said he did not have enough information at this time to rule on the
affidavit, however, the attorneys believe it will help in the appeals
process.
 
Jackie spent the last two weeks at the State Capitol talking to as many
people as she could about Brent's illness, trial, and sentencing.  Also the
ACLU and Amnesty International are interested in Brent's case.

I just want to say thank you so very much, again, and I will keep you posted
of any updates.
 
Deana