State & Local Page 2 The Battalion Tuesday, August 31,1993 Wilkerson excecuted for mass killing in Houston The Associated Press HUNTSVILLE - A man convicted of capital murder in what was considered the worst single mass killing ever in Houston was execut ed early Tuesday. Richard James Wilkerson, 29, was pronounced dead at 12:16 a.m., six minutes after the lethal drugs began flow ing into his arm. 'T'd just like to say I don't hate nobody. What I did was wrong. I just hope everybody is satisfied with what's about to happen," Wilkerson said in a final statement. Two sisters and a friend watched him die. As they sobbed, he told them he loved them. Then he coughed once and there was no fur ther movement. The slayings were so bru tal that Houston police who were summoned to the scene still shudder at the memory of the carnage. "I remember more than anything the blood, the copi ous amounts of blood," says J.C. Mosier, a former Hous ton homicide officer. "It was like a water leak in your home with 2 inches of water on the floor, only this was blood. It was horrible. They were just slaughtered." Wilkerson's last hope of halting the execution, the sixth in six weeks in Texas and the 13th this year, faded when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request for a stay. In an 8-0 vote at 8v20 p.m. CDT Monday, the high court denied Wilkerson's applica tion for a stay and also a peti tion to hear Wilkerson's ap peal, said Kathy Arburg, a court spokeswoman. Newly appointed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not take part in the vote and no reason was given. Texas enacts tougher drunken driving penalties The Associated Press AUSTIN — Tougher drunken driving penalties are taking effect in time for the long Labor Day weekend, and officials warned Monday that Texans who ignore them will pay. "For those who decide not to comply, they're going to find a little extra bite in the law," said Assistant Chief Virgil Walsmith of the Texas Department of Public Safety's traffic law enforcement division. But he and other officials said their main purpose is to deter drunken driving. During the 1992 Labor Day holiday period, 13 of 22 motor vehicle deaths involved people dri ving while intoxicated, according to the DPS. "Our goal at the Department of Public Safety for this weekend is not to see how many citations we can issue, or how many people we can arrest," Walsmith said. "Our ultimate goal ... is to make sure that folks get home safely. We're seeking voluntary compliance." Some legis lation ap proved this year particu larly targets Texans who aren't yet of legal drinking age. For exam ple, those un der 21 arrest ed for DWI may have their driver's license sus pended for up to a year for refusing to take a breath alco hol test, or registering an alcohol concentra tion of 0.07 or greater. Rep. Richard Raymond, who pushed that penalty, said he expects it to be effec tive because on teen-age boys' list of priori ties, driving ranks up there with having a girlfriend. "If they think that you might take their license away for a year, that's a big deal," said Raymond, D-Benavides. He said the 0.07 limit was chosen, rather than the 0.10 legal limit, because teen-agers are more dangerous on the road at lower levels of intoxication. Under other laws that take effect Wednesday, according to the Texas Depart ment of Transportation: — A judge who gives probation on a first- offense DWI conviction must require 72 hours of continuous jail time. More jail time is required for subsequent offenses. — A driver's implied consent to take an alcohol test applies not just on state roads and highways but in other public places as well. This can affect a driver who whips into a parking lot or is driving on a beach. — Minors caught in possession of alco hol will have to pay a fine and attend an al cohol awareness course on their first of fense. Previously, they would just have to do one of those. — Offenders who receive probation fora third DWI offense will have an ignition in terlock device installed on their cars. The devices are aimed at keeping drunk people from starting their cars. — Abusable glue, aerosol paint and oth er substances have been added to the defin ition of intoxication in the DWI statutes. — Funding will be increased for the state victims' compensation fund. Dozen Branch Davidians face federal charges, trial The Associated Press AUSTIN — If David Koresh's prophecy of Armageddon came true April 19, he escaped the wrath he created on earth and slipped into an other world. But defense attorneys say 12 of his followers are being punished for the messianic leader's actions. The dozen Branch Davidians who survived the blaze that destroyed the sect's rural compound outside Waco and killed Koresh and scores of his followers face a trial date later this year on federal charges. "I think what's happening is they want all of the defendants and our client in particular to serve David Koresh's time," said Terry Kirk, co counsel for sect member Ruth Ottman Riddle, who survived the blaze by jumping out a second-story window. Riddle is one of Koresh's pupils charged with killing federal officers, conspiracy to murder federal officers and possession of a firearm dur ing the commission of a crime of violence. The charges stem from the Feb. 28 federal raid of the group's Mount Carmel fortress that left four federal agents and six Branch Davidians dead and launched a 51-day standoff. The stalemate ended April 19 when federal agents pumped tear gas into the compound. A fire broke out and most of the Branch Davidian members were killed, including 17 children. On Monday, Riddle became the last of the sect members indicted on Aug. 6 to receive a detention hearing. U.S. District Judge Walter Smith was expected to set a November tri al date in Waco for the defendants, who will be tried together. The government intends to prove that Riddle and 11 other Branch Davidians were sharpshooters who gunned down four special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and wounded 16 oth ers during the botched raid. Prosecutors have relied on hundreds of photographs, audio tapes and videotapes compiled during and after the standoff to piece togeth er a crime scene destroyed by the fire. Government attorneys have refused to comment about their case. See Cult/Page 3 What I wish I'd known before I enrolled at Texas A&M ... Compiled by Michelle Tremblay The Battalion "I wish I would have truly understood how much studying is required to succeed at A&M, and that you have to be your own motivator." — Jill Trotter, sophomore microbiology major from Marble Falls '"N W "If I would have known the Aggie spirit and tradition were so great I would have been pre pared for it. I didn't expect it to be so overwhelming." — Gregg Blanchard, junior kinesiology major from Spring * "I wish I would have known I would love it here so I would not have worried about the decision to come to A & M." — Sarah Lineberger, sophomore agricultural development major from College Station "I anticipated a lot of problems, but regis tering was easier than I expected. But catch me in a month, and then see..." — Chad Bedwell, transfer freshman bioengineering major from Dallas "How to respond to certain situations culturally. The norm is different for me, and A&M is a different culture within a culture. Before college, T thought to get my head submerged in books and do nothing. But you are supposed to be learning how to communi cate, the books are just a catalyst, you are the one to initiate it." — Thaw Win, senior business major from Burma St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 2506 Cavitt, Bryan 779-7608 „ (Between S. College and Texas) Worship services 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. "Small enough to know you, large enough to serve you." That HEWLETT mLtiM PACKARD Model: List: SALE: HP48G $165.00 $125.00 HP48SX $199.00 $149.95 HP48GX $350.00 $259.95 SPARCOM Modules for the GX & SX $ 99.95 $ 89.95 University Bookstores 3 Off-Campus Stores to Serve You Northgate 846'4232 • Culpepper Plaza 693-9388 • Village 846-4818 STEP. WEIGHTS. FUNK. LITE. SUPERSESSION. AND OF COURSE, J| ALL THAT JAZZ. There’s always something new at Jazzercise. Because you’ll dance to the latest steps and your favorite songs. Plus, we’re always adding more of the newest moves and music. And if variety is the spice of life, we’re hot. Because there are also classes with weights, steps, longer sessions, less- intense workouts, stretching and toning, and programs for kids. So call for the classes near you. And start jazzing up your fitness routine. .puraercise. The fitness professionals. •FIRST CLASS FREE •NO MEMBERSHIP FEE •FORMER MEMBER SPECIALS •Child Care Available ‘Morning, Afternoon and Evening Classes Present -ad at time of purchase for special offer Jazzercise Fitness Center Wellborn at Grove, College Station, (1 block south of George Bush Drive) 764-1183 or 77,6-6696 • 14 Years in the B/CS area 10% OFF!! Discounted off our already low everyday prices! Coupon good on any purchase. Not good with any other offer. Limit one coupon per customer per purchase. Discount Code SK Expires 9/30/93 Money Saving Coupon 2009 S. Texas Ave in the Townshire Shopping Center ^ u • ^ d £ tH