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From WAQD: Podiatrist sentenced to death for murder of federal witness
Quote:
CHICAGO A Chicago podiatrist is being sent to death row for murdering a patient to keep her from telling a federal grand jury how he defrauded Medicare.
Ronald Mikos (MY'-kohs) proclaimed in a loud voice he did not kill 54-year-old Joyce Brannon moments before U-S District Judge Ronald Guzman sentenced him to death today.
Mikos was convicted in May 2005 after prosecutors presented evidence he shot Brannon, an invalid, six times at point-blank range in January 2002. A subpoena was found next to her body.
As a defense, Mikos attorneys suggested drug pushers might have hidden narcotics in Brannon's apartment, returned to get them and murdered her.
Mikos was also found guilty of defrauding Medicare out of one-point-eight (m) million dollars by billing it for thousands of foot operations he never performed.
Podiatrist speaks out at death sentencing
Doctor says he didn't kill his ex-patient
Quote:
For years, Dr. Ronald Mikos, who was convicted last year in the murder of a former patient who was cooperating in a fraud probe of him, has let his lawyers do the talking for him in federal court.
But Thursday, moments before U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman made final the death penalty imposed by a jury, Mikos, 57, declared in a strong voice: "Your honor, I did not kill Joyce Brannon."
The podiatrist was convicted in a largely circumstantial case of fatally shooting Brannon, a disabled caretaker, at the North Side church where she lived and worked. She was killed just four days before she was to testify against him in January 2002.
Mikos' lawyer, John Beal, vowed an appeal and said the death penalty was inappropriate because of Mikos' mental illnesses and abuse of prescription drugs and alcohol.
"This is not a case where there is a moral imperative for the death penalty," Beal said.
Brannon's mother, Selma, 91; and sister Janet Bunch had attended each day of the trial. But Selma recently died and Bunch chose not to attend the sentencing.
But in a letter, Bunch said she supported Mikos' execution "as soon as the law allows."....
Re: Podiatrist sentenced to death for murder of federal witness
I just watched a documentary on this whole story from the insurance fraud to the murder ... it was an episode of American Greed. I did a google search about the show and CNBC were given an award for the episode (here).
__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________ God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University This is where I am, where are you?
Podiatrist sentenced to death for murder of federal witness
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