Our congrats to Charlize Theron for winning Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her portrayal in the film Monster of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who was executed in October, 2002 in Florida. From our post at the time of her execution:

Aileen Wuornos, 44, one of the nation's first known female serial killers, was convicted of fatally shooting six middle-aged men along Florida highways in 1989 and 1990.

At the time of the killings, Wuornos was working as a highway prostitute. She said all of the men violentlyattacked her. She was only tried once for the murder of one of the men. Her lawyer had her plead guilty to the other five. Here are details of her case which some believe indicate she acted in self-defense and didn't receive either a fair trial or effective assistance of counsel. Her supporters also say sexism, anti-lesbian and anti-prostitute prejudice were used to condemn her to death.

Aileen wanted to die. In April, 2002 she asked for and received permission from the Court to drop her appeals and fire her lawyers. Her lawyers argued she was incompetent to make the decison. Jeb Bush granted a temporary stay for her to be examined by psychiatrists. She was judged competent to be executed and the stay was lifted.

Our comment on the execution:

The state of Florida should not engage in either state-assisted suicide or the killing of a mentally ill woman. Why are we still sinking to these levels?

We hope this award for Ms. Theron will raise public awareness of and condemnation for the execution of the mentally ill.