USA - Delaware. Judge Charles H. Toliver sentenced James Cooke, 41, black, to death

Superior Court Judge Charles H. Toliver IV formally sentenced James Cooke, 41, black, to death for the May 1, 2005 rape and murder of 20-year-old Lindsey Bonistall. The New Castle County jury at Cooke's re-trial on May 3 (see) voted 11-1 in favor of death. Cooke was sentenced to death in 2007 (see March 21 and June 6) for Bonistall's murder, but the Delaware Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2009 (see July 21) because his lawyers, without Cooke's consent and despite his repeated claims of innocence, argued he was guilty but mentally ill.