[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----N.H., N.Y.

[Rick Halperin]

April 1



NEW HAMPSHIRE:

Manchester Democrats played key role in keeping death penalty


The memory of slain Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs - and the
pending capital murder trial of Michael Addison, the man accused of
killing Briggs - permeated the debate in the House last week on repealing
the state's death penalty. Many lawmakers believe the narrow vote to keep
it would have gone the other way if not for the Addison case.

The House supported the death penalty 185-173. Republicans overwhelmingly
favored it, and Democrats overwhelmingly opposed it - except in
Manchester, where the Democratic delegation voted 12-8 to keep the death
penalty.

Among all other Democrats, only about 1 in 4 voted to keep the death
penalty. Had the Manchester Democratic delegation voted the same way, the
House would have passed the repeal. And that doesn't even take into
account the 9 Manchester Democrats who were absent.

Undoubtedly, the issue will arise on the campaign trail in Manchester next
year.

Rep. Mike Brunelle, the Democrat who serves as chairman of the city
delegation, voted to repeal the death penalty. He was happy to explain his
vote.

"The death of Police Officer Michael Briggs was one of the most
devastating events to our city in the past 50 years," he said. "But I
don't think it should be the purview of the government to decide when to
take a life from another human being."

Brunelle said neither the caucus nor the delegation took a position on the
issue. Lawmakers voted their individual beliefs.

(source: Concord Monitor)






NEW YORK:

Inmate allegedly violent in death row move


A convicted cop-killer allegedly injured a guard at a New York jail when
he violently opposed a transfer to an Indiana prison where he will sit on
death row.

The New York Post said when guards at the Metropolitan Detention Center
attempted to remove Ronell Wilson from his cell on Friday, the 24-year-old
inmate refused and the ensuing struggle left 1 guard with minor injuries.

Wilson is scheduled to be executed at Terre Haute federal prison for the
murders of New York Police Detectives James Nemorin and Rodney Andrews in
2003.

Prosecutors in Wilson's trial said he had killed the detectives during a
failed undercover operation and even shot Nemorin after the police officer
begged for his life.

Friday's alleged outburst by Wilson was not his 1st at the New York
facility, as the convicted murderer is accused of reacting violently in
February to the news that a window would separate him from his family
during visits.

That outburst included Wilson smashing out 2 windows with a chair before
being restrained, officials say.

(source: UPI)