SueZanne's Story:
My Father Didn't Want the Death Penalty for his Murderer

We didn't live in a very good area but my father loved it very much because he was there to help. There were always people asking for money and food, and my father was always willing to give.

SueZanne "If anything were to happen to me one day and I would die, I would still not want that person to get the death penalty." My father said these words to me not too long before he was killed and I was stabbed and seriously wounded.

One day when we got home from shopping, the doorbell rang and my dad went to answer. I heard weird noises and I knew that something was wrong. I went running out and saw him in the kitchen doorway being stabbed in the chest many many times. I must have screamed because James Bernard Campbell turned around and came toward me. I turned very quickly and he stabbed me three times in the back. I went down. My father was trying to get up on his knees to help me. James Bernard turned again to him and started stabbing him in the back. My dad collapsed and I tried to get up and help him again.

The intruder led me backwards into the living room and was going to stab me in the face. I turned my head and he stabbed me twice in the head. I went down. I laid there looking under the couch because I could see my dad out of the corner of my eye, crawling to the door for help.

In all my father was stabbed about 24 times. I was stabbed six times. My father died before I could get to the phone to call for help.

The knife went into my brain in two areas, the areas affecting my memory and my speech. It took me a little while to get through that period of time. During the surgeries that followed I had a lot of time to think about how and why and where I was on the subject of the death penalty. I could clearly remember my conversation with my father and realized that I am very strongly against the death penalty. The death penalty would not bring my father back. It does not make the situation better, and we have to go on. We have to do something better.

I am angry with James Bernard Campbell but I have forgiven him. Every year that goes by I can forgive him a little more. I have a Bible with his name printed on it which I want to take to him when I'm ready. I don't know how it will make him feel, but I want a peace within myself.

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