Why didn't the State of New York execute David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam?

He pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berkowitz

I was just going to say that!

His trial was all rolled up into one to save time and admin which means he only revieved one life sentence instead of eight. He is eligible for parole but has consistantly refused to apply for it.

http://hubpages.com/hub/David_Berkowitz_Or_Son_Of_Sam

Actually, he didn't receive the death penalty because there was no death penalty in New York at that time.

He plead guilty to killing six and wounding seven. But he managed to avoid the death penalty because there was no capital punishment law in effect at the time.

http://www.biography.com/people/david-berkowitz-9209372#arrest-and-imprisonment

New York reinstated capital punishment in 1995.

Berkowitz quickly confessed to the shootings, however, and expressed an interest in pleading guilty in exchange for receiving life imprisonment rather than facing the death penalty. Berkowitz was questioned for about 30 minutes in the early morning of August 11, 1977, and he quickly confessed to the "Son of Sam" killings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berkowitz


Today Berkowitz seems to be a changed man.

In 1965 the Death Penalty eliminated for most crimes in New York. In 1972, the US Supreme Court invalidates existing death penalty laws. Not until 1995 was, the Death Penalty reinstated and life-without-parole sentencing option created.

deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/1416 webpage no longer exists

David Berkowitz didn't receive the death penalty because there was no death penalty in New York at that time. He plead guilty to killing six and wounding seven. But he managed to avoid the death penalty because there was no capital punishment law in effect at the time.

serpa replies:

On June 12, 1978, he was sentenced to six life sentences in prison for the murders, making his maximum term 365 years. He was first imprisoned at the Attica Correctional Facility.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berkowitz

Zbeckabee replies:

Because he didn't get the death penalty:

On June 12, 1978, he was sentenced to six life sentences in prison for the murders, making his maximum term 365 years. He was first imprisoned at the Attica Correctional Facility.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berkowitz#Sentencing