[0] Judge Prohibits Murderer's Ashes From Being Scattered On Graves of Victims.Business Editors/Legal Writers RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2002 The Circuit Court of Rockingham County Rockingham County is the name of three counties in the United States of America:
Descent and Distribution. of Daniel L. Zirkle from carrying out his threat to have his ashes scattered on the gravesites of his murder victims. Zirkle was executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia on April 2 for the capital murders of his 4-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old half-sister. The Order was sought by Barbara Shifflett, the mother of the victims. Zirkle killed both girls on August 2, 1999 before attempting suicide by cutting his own throat. Daniel L. Zirkle plead guilty to the 1999 murders of 4 year-old Christina Zirkle, and 14 year-old Jessica Shifflett. Zirkle welcomed the imposition of the death sentence, and waived his right to appeal. Zirkle was executed on April 2. As long as a year and a half ago, and as recently as April 1, 2002, Zirkle had expressed his desire to be cremated, and to have his remains scattered on his victims' graves in the event that he was put to death. Zirkle reportedly remained quiet about his plans because he knew that Shifflett would oppose them and try to stop his family from carrying them out. When Zirkle communicated the threat to a corrections officer The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. prior to his execution, word was sent to Shifflett, who was determined to protect her daughters' graves from this threatened act. Shifflett contacted the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which referred her to Edward J. Fuhr and Eric H. Feiler in the Richmond, Virginia Richmond IPA: [ɹɯʒmɐnɖ] is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. office of the law firm of Hunton & Williams, who agreed to represent Shifflett on a pro bono Short for pro bono publico [Latin, For the public good]. The designation given to the free legal work done by an attorney for indigent clients and religious, charitable, and other nonprofit entities. basis. "When we learned of the heinous acts contemplated by Zirkle's family, we knew we had to do whatever we could to prevent this final indignity in·dig·ni·ty n. pl. in·dig·ni·ties 1. Humiliating, degrading, or abusive treatment. 2. A source of offense, as to a person's pride or sense of dignity; an affront. 3. to Zirkle's innocent victims, including Barbara Shifflett," said Fuhr, a partner at Hunton & Williams. "Barbara Shifflett has already had to suffer through the deaths of her daughters at the hands of Zirkle, she should not have to continue to suffer with the fear that Zirkle's family will commit this obscene desecration of the graves of her innocent daughters," added Fuhr. "It truly shocks the conscience Shocks the conscience is a phrase used as a legal standard in the United States and Canada. An action is understood to "shock the conscience" if it is perceived as manifestly and grossly unjust, typically by a judge. to imagine that any person would even think about violating the sanctity and the dignity of the gravesites of two innocent children in this way," said Fuhr. "We hope that this injunction will bring Barbara Shifflett some peace knowing that Zirkle can do no more harm to her children," said Fuhr. Fuhr added, "if there is any violation of this order we will devote whatever resources are necessary to obtain appropriate criminal and civil relief. For Eric Feiler and me this has been a moral obligation and remains one. Hunton & Williams has a tradition of pro bono service to those in need and we take these obligations seriously." The injunction prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from carrying out his wishes, or from permitting any other person to do so. The injunction further prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from entering the cemetery where Jessica and Christina are buried. The injunction will remain in place until May 17, 2002, or until the Court has an opportunity to rule on Shifflett's request for a permanent injunction permanent injunction n. a final order of a court that a person or entity refrain from certain activities permanently or take certain actions (usually to correct a nuisance) until completed. . Barbara Shifflett is represented by Edward J. Fuhr, a litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. partner, and Eric H. Feiler, a litigation associate with the Richmond, Virginia law firm of Hunton & Williams. Fuhr is a litigation partner who has been involved in some of the most hotly contested and significant corporate litigation in the region, including representing the developers of the proposed Short Pump Town Center Short Pump Town Center is located in Henrico County, Virginia on Broad Street, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) west of I-64 Exit 178A/B. This area of Henrico County is called The West End and is northwest of Richmond. Mall in its trial in one week and in the Supreme Court on Wednesday on behalf of Bon Secours Health Systems. "You make time when an emergency like this occurs," said Fuhr. Founded in 1901, Hunton & Williams is a major U.S. law firm with a significant international presence. More than 850 attorneys serve clients in 80 countries from 17 offices around the world. Atlanta - Austin - Bangkok - Brussels - Charlotte - Dallas - Hong Kong - Knoxville - London - McLean - Miami - New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of - Norfolk - Raleigh - Richmond - Warsaw - Washington |
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