Besides shooting the driver, he also shot the passenger in the head and she survived. If Amador had his way, he would have murdered three people. Pretty impressive for an 18 year old. I suspect he would have been a serial killer if he had not been caught and executed.

Left by kma on August 30th, 2007 at 12:46 pm

Hunh…and some think we are inhumane or backward, in our approach to justice.
Compared to what…this monster, this fetid and festering bag of meat, that murdered at will, and would surely murder again?
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Justice was delayed for far too long, in being dispensed, but it has not been denied.
My sympathies and best wishes to his victims, and their families.

Left by no2liberals on August 30th, 2007 at 4:22 pm

What a waste. He was an amazing artist. It’s such a shame that people throw their lives away like that.

Left by Texasgal on August 31st, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Amador murdered the cab driver about one-quarter of a mile from my front door, in the 21000 block of State Highway 16 South, in Von Ormy, Texas. The murder occured at about 5am, when I was on my way home from work. I heard dogs barking nearby and when the sheriff’s deputies who were at the scene told me what happened and that they were looking for the shooter, I roused eveyrone who lived at our ranch (four households).

I got my gun and stood watch to make sure the murderer did not consider the nearby homes a tempting target to conceal himself. I hope that I saved some lives that day. I regret that I did not get the opportunity to kill Amador myself.

Left by M. Thomas on September 2nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm

John Joe Amador last words were ‘Forgive them for they know not what they do’…this is confirmed by the State. He went to his death claiming he was innocent.
There was no murder weapon, no DNA, no motive. Just a very drunk witness who later retracted her statement and a bitter ex girlfriend who claimed he confessed to it. His stepfather was a brutal man. He was just a child who was only trying to protect his mother from beatings and sexual abuse. One he had no memory of. Instead of the support and care he would have received in any other civilised country he was placed in prison.
When will you people wake up to the fact that you routinely execute innocent people that you create more victims and the circle of violence carries on. I hope that one day your country will evolve enough to stop murdering your own kind.
Your human rights are on par with China, Iran and Saudi Arabia…shame on you.
By the way John Joe Amador memory will live on more than any of you who have such hate in your hearts…the film of him life is already being made, he has a huge sculture being made in his honour and soon three of his books are to be published and his play is about to be shown in the UK…What will you leave behind, other than hate?

Left by carrie4 on September 3rd, 2007 at 3:00 pm

What will you leave behind, other than hate?

Uh, no robbery and murder victims for one. Are you for real???

Left by kma on September 3rd, 2007 at 9:25 pm

Are you thick …I just explained that John Joe Amador was innocent…duhhhhhh!!!

Even if he did kill his step father, it was to protect his mother from rape and physical violence. What would you have done in his shoes?
Do you really hold a 14 year responsible for that crime…

Left by carrie4 on September 4th, 2007 at 3:02 pm

So, no2liberals, just how much research have you done before before forming your shallow and vicious opinions - I certainly would be more scared to meet you on a dark night than John Joe Amador, you sound far more dangerous. Inhumane and backward? Dead right. Justice? You don’t know the meaning of the word.

Left by Lucinda on September 4th, 2007 at 5:16 pm

Why Lucinda, were you to meet Amador on a dark street, now, and not be afraid, then you most certainly would not be afraid of me.
I was in law enforcement, I know how the system works, and have looked in the eyes of evil, psychopaths. Have you?
I’ve known the type of men that could look at you innocently, and dispassionately, then try and jab a pencil in your eye. You know squat, just your pathetic bleeding-heart view. Is there no limit to how many people a man can murder, like Amador, before you are outraged at the criminal?
Don’t answer, I already know what you will say. I know your type, too.

Left by no2liberals on September 4th, 2007 at 9:35 pm

You know everything don’t you? Your arrogance astounds me. I fail to understand how on earth you can support a system that condemns people to death with no DNA proof and cases based on flimsy evidence. Sorry, but I still maintain you are more scarey than an innocent man condemned to death.

Left by Lucinda on September 5th, 2007 at 4:15 am

It’s sad that people can say such ugly things about someone they know nothing about. John was a wonderful man inside and out of prison. The archives to all death row cases are in downtown Austin, at the capital. Take responsibility for your hate and your malice by getting the proof first. John was sentenced to die and executed because he did not have money for an attorney. That is the reason why he was eventually executed. The media will say anything for a story, they ARE LIARS! You can ask anyone in law enforcement and most of them will tell you that our judicial system IS corrupt. It’s amazing that this country being a super power follows third world politics.

Left by Lisa on September 5th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

Right on Lisa !

Left by Lucinda on September 5th, 2007 at 5:56 pm

Lucinda, I would say I know more than you, at the minimum.
Your indifference to justice, and your amoral insensitivity to his victims astounds me far more, than your perception of arrogance, on my part.
The system works, like the outcome or not. He doesn’t murder, he doesn’t get executed. The rules are quite clear, and easy to follow. You only need fear me if I’m sitting in the jury, judging your crimes.

Lisa, his record, his prosecution, the evidence, the witnesses, the jury decision, and the subsequent appeals and reviews are not indicative of a third world country. He murdered two, thought he done three, then claims he is innocent, irrespective of the results of the process, is not surprising. Saying he was a wonderful man, is clearly indicative of your blind advocacy for murderers, those who have chosen to forfeit their rights and privileges as a member of society. Your words are as hollow as your support for justice.
I’ll bet you just love Tommy Silverstein. He never murdered until he went to prison, then committed four while in prison, stabbing one prison guard more than twenty times. You should contact him, he now has a webpage. You two should hit it off just fine.

Left by no2liberals on September 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm

dear noliberals,

I guess I would have a lot to fear if you were one of my judges..seeing as you are ready to convict a man to death without any evidence….

if you are so sure of this case where is your evidence…which bit would you like to use that proves your justice is not third world.
Which bit of his case do you think proves beyond resonable doubt that he is s murder?

What facts or evidence to you have in this case ?

The only witness to this crime was pissed out of their head and then went on to re-tract her statement, claiming she was forced to name John. If he is the guilty person you say he was, why did he voluntarily hand himself in whilst in CA…why not run for it…doesn’t sound like the action of a serial killer…does it..

Mind you, you can learn more when his film is released next year….

Left by carrie4 on September 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

No2liberals - Of course you are fearsome, you are ready to convict and condemn people without checking your facts - you judge me without knowing me and you ascribe words to me that I have never said. Is this what you were like as a law enforcement officer, condemning people based on your own twisted opinions? No wonder innocent people such as John Joe Amador end up being murdered by the state.

I have a lot of compassion and am extremely sensitive to all victims and their families. How on earth you came to the conclusion that I wasn’t beats me. You have obviously missed the point of this debate. In fact I notice that you haven’t addressed any of the relevant questions that have been asked of you. I await to hear your answers to Carrie4’s questions, it would make so much more interesting reading than your vitriolic messages.

Left by Lucinda on September 6th, 2007 at 3:25 pm

innocent people such as John Joe Amador

You’re insane, Lucinda. All those judges, all those appeals courts, all those jurors, and all that evidence…

But somehow you want to cling to the belief that they were ALL wrong, and you just KNOW that he’s innocent (how? why didn’t you testify at his trial since you seem to have the ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE of his innocence)?

The woman that Amador shot, Esther Garza, testified that she was in the cab (not hard to prove, as her blood was all over the cab) and that she was shot by Amador’s 16-year old cousin, and that Amador shot and killed Ayari.

Why would Garza want anybody BUT the guy and girl who shot her and killed her friend to be punished for the crime? (Answer: She wouldn’t).

I’m going to go ahead and believe the person who was shot and was there and who testified against Amador.

You go ahead and believe a killer.

Left by Robbie on September 6th, 2007 at 4:11 pm

I have a question for Robbie, what part of “We have a signed affidavit from Esther Garza retracting her statement against John Joe Amador where she also state’s that she was coerced by the S.A.P.D”, did you NOT understand?

By the way, who are you? You can email me at ashsimages@yahoo.com . You have VERY personal details about me and my husband and I would like to know how you got that information.

John Joe Amador was and is the love of my life. I was blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to marry such a GREAT man.

Left by Linda Amador on September 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

In addition to murdering Reza Ayari, your husband also killed his step-father (for which he only served 3 years).

Your definition of “a great man” and mine vary widely.

[Edited by Robbie on 9/19/07 --- I referred to Joe as Linda's "ex-husband", when that is not an accurate nor fair description of their marriage. My apologies to Linda forthe unintended insult.]

Left by Robbie on September 13th, 2007 at 3:59 pm

What part of…

“John all but confessed when he identified to police the caliber of the guns used in the shootings, described how he “would have” committed the murder, asserted that he “will take [his] death sentence” if prosecutors could “prove it in court,” and warned his girlfriend by letter not to testify.”

… don’ t you understand?

As far as your “personal info” — I live in Austin, just a few miles from the court house where all public records are archived. It’s a simple Open Records Request via the Freedom of Information Act away from looking up divorce records, marriage records, court cases, judges’ decisions, etc.

Oh, not to mention some of the stuff you’ve written yourself online. Remember, the Internet has a long memory, and is a public source of info for anybody who knows how to use Google.

Left by Robbie on September 13th, 2007 at 4:10 pm

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”- and you seem to me to be very, very blind.
The hate in your words certainly is your very privat and personal problem- and I am not interested at it..
But I think with this emotional and subjective mind you should not try to decide about important political questions.
In a country that calls itself democratic and civillised death-penalty shouldnt be a part of the justice system…otherwise it degrades itself on the same level then other inhuman and violent cukturs are.
It is not possible to combine fundamental ethics basic ideas with the morder of human being in the name of the nation.
If killing is the worst crime once can commit (and I think so)- how can you kill in the name of justice? How can you turn those men working in the jail to killer- giving a person a lethal injection or tie him on a electric chair?
I really understand the hate and the pain of the familes of victims- but this personal feeling should never affect law.
And its never,never,never the right of a country to put people to death.
Rotlocke

P.S. Believe me- I am no deathrow-groupie, I have no interests of having romantik affairs with inmates….I only think texan right its a scandal !

Left by Rotlocke on September 15th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Robbie - I feel you really are treading on thin ice here - you are using inconclusive statements to try and prove your point. Statements such as ‘all but confessed’ and how he ‘would have’ committed the murder simply do not prove anything, quite the opposite I would think. In fact these are probably responses to extreme pressure by the police - we know how much the police pressured the witness, imagine how much they pressured Mr Amador. The challenge to prove it in court was made because he thought it would be impossible given that he did not commit the murder - a statement that any person wrongly accused of a crime may make because they thought justice would prevail.

Sadly justice is extremely twisted in Texas and many other states. Unfortunately any country that can lower themselves to committing murder in the name of ‘justice’ is not deserving of any respect. And people who refuse to accept that innocent people ARE killed by the state must live in cloud cuckoo land.

Oh and by the way, I would prefer it if you too didn’t make judgements about me. As far as I am concerned, and my friends agree, I am totally sane and also well read. I learnt about John Joe Amador’s case long after he was convicted and thoroughly researched all the facts before coming to my conclusion.

Left by Lucinda on September 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pm

‘In addition to murdering Reza Ayari, your ex-husband also killed his step-father (for which he only served 3 years).

Your definition of “a great man” and mine vary widely.’

So Robbie, you would just watch as your mother was raped and beaten and your younger brother murdered by your step father would you. Would that make you a great man?

You don’t seem to register that John was only a boy of what 14/15 when this happened.

YOu condemn him as a murdered, only fit to die because as a child he help stop his step father from killing his mother. Non of you pro -death lot will ever say what you would of done in his place. You are a callous lot who only seek revenge.

If John was guilty, tell me one thing, why did he hand himself into the police in CA when he heard he was wanted in connection with a murder in TX. Why didn’t he make a run for it, if he was so obvioulsy guilty?
Gov Ryan of Illinois, a republicican, commuted every d/r inmate to life imprisonment after investigating all their cases and coming to the conclusion that at least 4 inmates waiting execution were infact innocent.
Conservative estimates, are that at least 10% of those on d/r are innocent ..yet you pro’s won’t give an inch, you dont even care, just hang them high…hopefully given the fullness of time, even your part of the world will have to envolve into some kind of a civillised nation.

Jim Willet (ex warden of Huntsville) even conceeded that some were innocent…

Left by carrie4 on September 19th, 2007 at 7:15 am

By the way Robbie, John Joe Amador IS my husband, NOT ex-husband. I’m sure it was a devious intent on your part to attack me but I just wanted to clear that up just in case you or anyone else had any doubts or confusions about it.

Reza Ayari’s spouse is always referenced as his wife (not ex) even though she’s been married twice since his death. My husband had been dead 2 weeks and you were already calling him my ex. I resent that comment. What did I ever do to you for you to attack me in this way? I am a human being and my husband is dead. Have some respect!

Left by Linda Amador on September 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

Linda — my apologies about the “ex” reference. That was not intended as a slight. I have corrected it in the original text.

Regardless of how I feel about your husband’s life and crimes, I have no ill will towards you, and I very much respect that you loved and honored your husband.

Again, I am sorry about the insult to the sanctity of your marriage. It is not my place to judge the veracity or the legitimacy of your love and marriage.

Left by Robbie on September 19th, 2007 at 2:52 pm

Robbie,
YOu suprize me that you would so quickly say sorry to linda for getting the facts wrong about her marraige to John.

How do you feel about her husbands life and crimes?

You do not answer the fact that Esther Garza retracting her statement and that John voluntarily handed himself in CA. Why do you think that certain inmates go to their deaths claiming innocence to the bitter end, even when the majority nearly always say sorry and ask for forgiveness. Is there any point in still claiming your innocence as they are about to kill you. Will you not concede that some are indeed innocent and that a state sponsored murder is taking place.
John’s last words were ‘ forgive them for they know not what they do’..yet every paper in the USA stated that he had said ‘god forgive me’…they made him guilty with one word.
Yes he was an angry young man when he was young. Yes he was involved in gangs. Yes he spoke in anger when he was in court. Yes he was involved in the murder of his brutal stepfather.
But none of those facts actually makes him guilty of the crime he was executed for.
The standard of law that is used in the States to execute people is a joke. You read the headlines, see a black or hispanic, they talk about ‘gangs’, and you are already to have the poor guy executed.
And you still havent replied what would you do to protect your mother from abuse.
If you were raped, beaten , abused, made to live in a cage at times, watched your mother attacked daily…then served 4 years in prison for putting a stop to the abuse ( ie killed for stepfather) would you not emerged an angry young man?>!!

Prehaps you should think about walking in anothers shoes before celebrating the fact they have been murderd by the State.

Left by carrie4 on September 22nd, 2007 at 5:50 pm

celebrating the fact they have been murderd by the State.

That’s exactly the word I was looking for.. ‘Celebrating‘I just can’t understand when the pro people cheer and celebrate about the execution of an inmate.

I’m against it because also innocent die this way. f.i.” Law of Parties, Mentally Ill. And because I don’t like anybody get murdered, specially not in a civilized country.

I do not like ‘an eye for an eye’. When I get hit, I WILL turn the other cheek. I’m 6′6″ 280lbs biker not scared of the Devil and only really drunk and scared little roaches tried that (hit me) in the past with little or no success, most of the time they hurt themselves instead

When an inmate gets executed it’s a sad and serious moment. For everybody. No a time to celebrate or cheer. We as a society have failed. We should have/create a better society / environment to live in. (Globally)

I don’t go to Church, but I belief in a God - A good person. My Father is in Heaven, he died when I was 8, I am a year older than him now (43). When I stand in front of God I want Him to know that I tried. Tried to help people and love them - not to hurt them. I’m no Mother Therersa, I make (many) mistakes as well therefor I am human. But I try to learn. Every day.

Left by Jacques on September 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 pm

I notice that no2liberals and robbie have both ceased to write on this matter. I only hope that they have reflected on all that has been said, taken on board the facts and poignant questions put to them, and softened their hard line view. It would be nice to think that these discussions help to bring reality to the fore and chip away at some of these hardline Utopian ideas that America is always just and perfect.

Left by Lucinda on September 27th, 2007 at 7:54 pm

No Lucinda, I had heard and said all I had to say on this creatures punishment, and the whiny voices opposed to the death penalty.
People like you bore me, and offer nothing I could find enlightening.

Left by no2liberals on October 9th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

sounds like a bad loser to me…..can’t win the arguement so claim to be bored..

Left by carrie4 on October 10th, 2007 at 8:07 pm

No2liberals won the argument before he began. Amador is still guilty and still dead. The only people who believe he is not guilty is a handful of nuts who sound like a cult. And, yeah, you are a bore.

Left by Wilson on November 13th, 2007 at 5:20 pm

http://www.txexecutions.org/reports/402.asp

The victim’s wife, JoAnn Ayari, attended the execution, along with the couple’s son, Amir, who was 6 years old when his father was killed. Mrs. Ayari told reporters that she forgave Amador and felt sorry for his family. Amir said that he was happy that Amador was executed, but that Amador “looked too happy” and should have been burned.

I admit I find her comment funny.

Left by Anonymous on March 7th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

do any of you people beleive in god. vengence is his not ours. don’t get me wrong life in prison is better than death.

[Editor --- And how do you know that the death penalty isn't God's way of exacting vengeance?. You don't. Unless of course you and The Almighty are on one-to-one talking terms.]

Left by fox1007 on March 8th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

we are not a handfull we are thousands
John’s story is becoming part of a growing awarness in the uk not just about injustice in texas but every where this is not a time to take things personaly unless you are involved that can be understood ,
he has been the subject of an exhibition in London England .
In LAW there is the term beyond all resonable doubt
well many have the doubts about this case .
To all the parties concerned I pray there will be healing

note to the editor
the god of the old testiment was a vengefull god
in the new testiment jesus told us he was not
I am a christian my god does not exact vengence this way

Left by john on May 3rd, 2008 at 4:49 am

Take your meds!

Left by Anonymous on July 5th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

oh my god u uk lot need to get a life and stop living in the past of a murderer! jon did kill his step father fact! he was found guilty on more than one occasion, fact, im not saying he deserved to die but, he certanly wasnt innocent, ive looked up ur uk stuff regarding amador and i think u guys seriously need to get a life away from all this death row crap u cant do nothing about, u seem a lil sick in the head making art out of dead people????? what the hell does that achieve other than to fill a void in your empty little lives. u seem to idolise a criminal that doesnt make any country better let alone one you dont even live in, my advise would be get a life and keep taking the medication! legal or otherwise

Left by sign of the times on August 19th, 2008 at 6:39 am