Jan. 22
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Candidates for governor weigh in on Addison death sentence
2 of 4 candidates for governor this week ruled out any notion of commuting the
death penalty sentence of convicted cop-killer Michael Addison, while 1 said
new evidence might change his mind, and a 4th said he'd want to see all the
facts before making a decision.
The New Hampshire Union Leader questioned the 4 candidates this week after news
emerged that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of Addison's
death penalty sentence for the 2006 killing of Manchester police officer
Michael Briggs.
New Hampshire last executed a person in 1939. Since then, the death penalty has
been a subject of debate within the state. 2 years ago, the New Hampshire House
passed a death penalty repeal but it died in the state Senate.
Democrat Colin Van Ostern and Republican Frank Edelblut both said they would
support a repeal of the death penalty, but at the same time they ruled out any
sentence commutation for Addison.
"The murder of Officer Briggs was a horrible crime, and his sentence was justly
rendered by a judge and jury," said Van Ostern, an executive councilor, in an
email.
"I would respect the laws in place at the time the crime was committed," said
Edelblut, a 1-term state representative and technology investor.
Republican Chris Sununu is the only 1 of the 4 to not favor repeal of the death
penalty. He said the state's death penalty has served the state "fairly well."
But he said he couldn't answer any question about a commutation for Addison
until he knew all the details.
"Something of that serious nature would require an in-depth analysis," said
Sununu, an executive councilor.
The 4th candidate in the race, Democrat Mark Connolly, said he would have to
see new, substantive evidence before considering a sentence commutation. He
said the death penalty is expensive, probelmatic and at times unconstitutional.
"I believe it's clear that the death penalty no longer serves its intended
purpose," said Connolly, a former securities regulator.
State law allows a governor to reduce a death penalty to a prison term of life
or less. The law requires a governor to seek the advice of the 5-member
Executive Council.
Currently, New Hampshire law allows the death penalty in several instances,
including murder for hire, killing of a police officer or judge, a killing in
connection with a rape and a killing involving a home invasion.
The state has issued a bid request for lawyers to handle the habeas corpus
portion of Addison's appeal. Lawyers familiar with the process said such
reviews are lengthy and expensive. They involve searches for new evidence and
often raise issues of whether a defendant's trial counsel was adequate.
(source: Union Leader)
MISSOURI----new execution date
Earl Forrest has been given an execution date for May 11; it should be
considered serious.
(sources: MC/RH)
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