Lecture on the Bitteker-Norris Murders

Background

• 1979: The Bitteker-Norris murders horrified Los Angeles residents.
• Lawrence Bitteker was on death row at San Quentin twenty years later, still alive.
• Roy Norris: Chief prosecution witness, avoided death penalty by testifying against Bitteker.

Crime Details

• Victims: Five girls kidnapped, raped, murdered, and tortured.
• Method: Torture involved pliers, ice picks; some bodies never found.
• Bitteker's Profile:
  • IQ of 138
  • Extensive criminal record
  • Diagnosed with severe antisocial personality disorder

Arrest and Investigation

• Discovery: A jogger found Lynette Ledford's body, leading to Bitteker and Norris's arrest.
• Joseph Jackson: Alerted authorities; led to Norris's surveillance and arrest.
• Bitteker's van contained crucial evidence, including a cassette tape.

Legal Proceedings

• Roy Norris: Plea deal, testified against Bitteker to avoid death penalty.
• Evidence: Norris's detailed confession; tape recordings of torture.
• Trial: Bitteker characterized as mastermind; defense claimed Norris should be on trial.
• Outcome: Bitteker convicted and sentenced to death.

Death Row

• Bitteker's Life in Prison:
  • Confined to cell, minimal human contact
  • Rarely leaves cell for exercise or showers
  • Writes and files numerous civil lawsuits

Appeals and Legal System

• Multiple execution dates set and stayed due to appeals.
• Habeas Corpus: Bitteker utilized this to delay execution.
• Moratorium on Executions: California halted executions due to concerns over lethal injection.

Public and Legal Opinions

• Debate on Death Penalty:
  • Controversy over application and errors in the justice system.
  • Referendums to repeal or uphold the death penalty.
• Personal Reflections:
  • Prosecutors and jurors deeply affected by the case.
  • Many advocate for limited use of death penalty in extreme cases.

Current Status

• Bitteker's Appeals: Ongoing delays and legal proceedings.
• Public Perception: Case remains a significant reference point in debates about capital punishment.