18 April 2023 :
(April 14, 2023) - Death penalty reinstated against Beau Greene
The Arizona Supreme Court on Friday reinstated the death penalty against Beau Greene, now 57, White, a man convinced of the February 1995 murder of Roy Johnson, 59.
In a unanimous decision, the justices said that Beau Greene was sentenced to death based on a law at the time that said those who commit murder for pecuniary purposes are eligible for the ultimate punishment. And they acknowledged that provision of the law was subsequently repealed by the Arizona Legislature.
But they concluded there was no evidence that state lawmakers intended to make that change retroactive.
The court also rejected Greene's contention that it would be wrong to execute him now for something that lawmakers have since decided should no longer be considered when determining the motive for the crime.
"The conduct Greene engaged in, aside from his motive to murder, remains subject to a sentence of death and his actions in murdering Johnson continue to fall within that narrow category of the most serious crimes,'' wrote Justice William Montgomery for the court.
Greene, who admitted he had been using meth continuously for several days and was suffering from withdrawal, said Johnson approach him and offered to pay for oral sex. When Johnson did not follow through, Greene said he "freaked out'' and struck Johnson several times in the head.
Greene then went on a spending spree using Johnson's credit cards. He was arrested several days later.
He was sentenced to death in 1996.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Wayne Yehling vacated the death sentence.
