Nicholas Candy
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Nicholas Candy (1949 - 1996) was a British-born U.S. permanent resident who was killed, at age 47, by his father-in-law, Richard Keech, a then 79-year old World War II veteran, in a contentiously disputed case. The prosecution contended that it was cold-blooded murder and the circumstances of the killing lend credence to that claim:
"On May 21, 1996, when Mr. Candy came to the house to pick up his son, Mr. Keech had a 9-millimeter pistol in his waistband, under his shirt. The two began arguing at the curb. Mr. Keech pulled the gun, shot his son-in-law in the side and then followed him down the sidewalk, shooting him four more times after he fell face first on a neighbor's lawn" (see [1]).
Many fellow veterans and many ordinary citizens automatically supported Keech, and pled for leniency following his conviction of murder: ...[h]is defenders say he was protecting his daughter, Nancy, from spousal abuse. The murder occurred at a time when Keech's daughter and Candy were being divorced and were battling for custody of their son, Martin (see [2]).
However, there were detractors to these arguments, as well, but they were in the minority.
Denis Cook, who says he was best man when Candy married Nancy Keech [emailed the following]: "His ailments? Some would say he got off lightly. Perhaps, as I believe he's a religious man, God is paying him back for his heinous crime. Let him die in prison. Do not defend him" (see [3]).
Nicholas' sister, Jocelyn Candy Bunyan, also a U.S. permanent resident, bitterly opposed the petitions and pleas for clemency for the man who was convicted of murdering her brother (she referred to Richard Keech as Satan on earth).
One petition read (in part) as follows:
"prison sentence of 35 years to life for Richard Keech – at age 79!...[for fighting back against] a threat no less menacing than the terrorist minds who attacked innocents on September 11th [thus comparing Candy with the 9/11 hijackers]" (see [4]).
Among other points raised at Keech's trial was the defense's ultimately unsuccessful assertion that he was suffering from long-delayed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (see [5]).
[edit] Richard Keech
Richard Keech is (as of 2006) incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, California.
His prison data (per [6]) are:
- K86028
- HOSP CTC 31S
- P.O. Box 750
- Susanville, CA 96127-0750
