Michael Parrish wants to plead guilty and be executed for the fatal shootings of his girlfriend and their son. He doesn't even want to present mitigating circumstances that could justify life in prison instead of the death penalty. Pleading guilty to murder isn't unusual, but waiving challenges to execution is rare, as is declining presentation of mitigating evidence, said Joanne Epps, dean at Temple's Beasley School of Law. "It is, or should be, common for a lawyer to want to ensure the judge has a complete understanding of the matter before him or her….It seems the defendant may be competent to enter a plea, but may be overcome with remorse and hence be unwilling to pursue the legal options available to him."