Story Published:
Nov 18, 2009 at 12:23 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Nov 18, 2009 at 12:23 AM EDT
Republican lawmakers are hoping to force a debate in the Massachusetts Senate on a proposal to restore the death penalty to the Bay State.
It's been 62 years since Phillip Bellino and Edward Gertson were electrocuted for the murder of a man. Those two men were the last executions in the Commonwealth.
That was 1947. In 2009, some legislators are looking to restore the death penalty.
"We should have another tool in the toolbox to give district attorneys the ability to ask for the death penalty," Republican Senator Scott Brown says.
Scott Brown and several other Republicans are filing an amendment that would allow the death penalty for capital murder convictions. It would require the death penalty for those convicted of killing a law enforcement official, committing deadly acts of terrorism, and for murders involving torture.
Brown points to the murder of New Hampshire mother Kimberly Cates. She was brutally and randomly stabbed to death in her home. Her daughter, Jaimie, was seriously injured.
"Those crimes are beyond comprehension and there should be the opportunity for the district attorney to ask for the death penalty in these cases that are just so heinous," he says.
New Hampshire has the death penalty, but in the Cates case, it can't be used since the murder was during a home invasion.
Tuesday, in Springfield, Marion Szlachta was sentenced to life for beating his roommate to death with a hammer. Some residents say that crime deserves death.
"He beat someone with a hammer, maybe he should die too to be completely honest," Westfield's Zachary Boissonneault says.
Others don't believe in the finality of it all.
"To have them spend the rest of their life in jail is much better than taking a life. Whatever goes around comes around," says Westfield's Giles Harewood.
Timothy Taillefer doesn't trust in the criminal justice science
"You don't want to put someone away, then later, say, oops, we made a mistake," he says.
The bill is identical to one filed by former Gov. Mitt Romney in 2005. That bill would have created a "no doubt" standard for juries before the death penalty could be imposed. The Democratic House defeated Republican Romney's proposal on a 99-to-53 vote.
Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont are the only New England states without the death penalty.
; "Click for Neighborhood Pinpoint Doppler")
; "Click for Seven Day Forecast")
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .