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With the backing of prosecuting attorneys a death penalty bill may pass

May 3, 2000
By: Renny MacKay
State Capital Bureau

The Missouri Senate is debating a bill to stop executions of people with mental retardations.

Renny MacKay has more from Jefferson City.

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Wednesday, the Senate debated the death penalty bill and no one voiced opposition to the idea of it. But, Senator David Klarich did object to the bill's definition of mentally retarded.

The bill's sponsor Senator Larry Rohrbach then decided to put the bill aside to work out an agreeable definition.

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Contents: Rohrbach says sometimes you just need to let something sit for a day or two, and that he hopes Senator Klarich can be convinced the existing language is fine.

The language used in the bill right now, was approved by the prosecuting attorneys of Missouri, who for the first time support the bill.

From the state capitol, I'm Renny MacKay.

For the first time the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys supports a bill to stop executions of people with mental retardations. That support could get the bill passed this year.

From Jefferson City, Renny MacKay has the story.

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Wednesday the Senate debated the death penalty bill, and the head of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Association, Rich Callahan, visited the capitol.

The Senate didn't vote on the bill because of some objections to the bill's definition of mentally retarded.

Callahan is one of the prosecuting attorneys who helped research that definition.

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Contents: Callahan says the attorneys looked at a lot of other states' definitions and says this is one of the most conservative definitions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to try and work out an agreeable definition for the bill and if they can the bill is expected to pass the Senate.

From the state capitol, I'm Renny MacKay.

A Missouri bill to ban executions the mentally retarded, got a surprise endorsement this year and that may get it passed into legislation.

From Jefferson City Renny MacKay has more.

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The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys is supporting the bill.

Rich Callahan is the Executive Director of the Association.

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The prosecuting attorneys' support might just do that.

Wednesday, the Senate debated the bill and may vote on it soon. They're now waiting to come to an agreement about the definition of mentally retarded.

From the state capitol, I'm Renny MacKay.