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Wednesday, September 17, 2003

A member of the Navajo Nation was sentenced to death on Monday, the first Native American on death row.

Lezmond Mitchell, 21, was convicted by a federal jury in May of murdering Alyce R. Slim, 63, and her granddaughter Tiffany Lee, 9. The crime has been described as one of the most brutal in recent years on the reservation.

The murders have prompted the Navajo Nation to reconsider its blanket opposition to the death penalty. President Joe Shirley Jr. has said the people should decide whether to opt for capital punishment, although he personally opposes it.

Mitchell was subject to the death penalty despite the blanket tribal opposition because the crime involved a carjacking across state lines.

Get the Story:
Mitchell sentenced to death (The Farmington Daily Times 9/17)
Navajos debate death penalty; Shirley says no (The Farmington Daily Times 9/17)

Related Stories:
Navajo Nation to hold hearings on death penalty (09/11)
Navajo president wants to revisit death penalty (05/28)
Man would be first Indian on federal death row (05/22)
Man sentenced to die for reservation carjacking (5/21)

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