The tag team of former Prosecutor Robert Gever and Judge Fran Gull

10 years later, justice delayed. Joseph Corcoran was a sick mentally ill person when he exacted death on family members and friends. But, this time, prosecutors had an second chance at Corcoran who years early won an acquittal for his parent's death. Corcoran would serve as an example for Allen County prosecutors legacy for tough on crime prosecution. No one is excusing Corcoran's behavior, but his mind speaks to his culpability. Excessive sentences for many convicts made nice headlines for folks political careers.

Joseph Corcoran timeline

April 14, 1992 – Corcoran’s parents found shot to death in Steuben County.

Nov. 16, 1992 – Corcoran is acquitted in those deaths.

July 26, 1997 – Corcoran shoots and kills his brother, his sister’s fiance, and two others at a Bayer Avenue home in Fort Wayne.

May 22, 1999 – Corcoran is convicted of four counts of murder.

May 25, 1999 – Jury recommends Corcoran be put to death.

Aug. 26, 1999 – Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull sentences Corcoran to death.

Dec. 6, 2000 – Indiana Supreme Court affirms Corcoran’s conviction but vacates the death penalty, sending it back for a more specific sentencing order.

Dec. 21, 2000 – Judge Gull issues a revised sentencing order, again sentencing Corcoran to death.

Sept. 5, 2002 – The Indiana Supreme Court affirms Corcoran’s conviction 5-0 and his death sentence 4-1.

Dec. 19, 2003 – Judge Gull notifies the Indiana Supreme Court that she has found Corcoran competent and that he does not wish to file a petition for post-conviction relief.

Jan. 7, 2004 – Corcoran’s public defender files appeal, claiming Corcoran was incompetent to waive his appeal rights.

May 12, 2005 – Indiana Supreme Court finds Corcoran competent to waive his appeal rights.

Nov. 8, 2005 – Petition filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, asking for a stay of Corcoran’s execution date and the court to reconsider the sentence.

April 9, 2007 – U.S. District Judge Allen Sharp issues his opinion, overturning the death sentence and ordering Corcoran be sentenced within 120 days to a term other than death.

Corcoran was lucky, Alan Freedman of the Midwest Center for Justice, which represents death row prisoners, kept up the battle for an convict that others simply wanted to just throw away.

The blogosphere has started a blog in the Afroshere for such injustices by prosecutors hell bent on just making headlines. Many convicts tricked into, lied into or unable to wage a defense. .. lives throw away.