Cruel and unusual?
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
Gov. Easley should impose moratorium on executions
Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida has suspended executions after a botched lethal injection earlier this month and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has ordered his administration to make sure execution practices comply with the U.S. Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Gov. Mike Easley of North Carolina ought to pay attention — and impose a temporary moratorium.
It has been clear for years that North Carolina’s process for identifying, prosecuting and sentencing murderers to die is seriously flawed. Investigations by the Observer and other organizations showed a killer’s chance of getting the death penalty — or life in prison — varied widely from one judicial district to another and often depended upon the race of the victim.
The Observer has urged the legislature to pass a two-year moratorium on executions to allow time for a thorough study of how to solve problems in the administration of capital punishment. The legislature declined to impose a moratorium but a House committee has been studying the issue and may make recommendations when it meets in January. (more…)
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