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Senate committee hears testimony on capitol punishment.

March 8, 2004
By: Paul C. Matadeen
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB 0713 / SB 0838 / SB 0726

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from supporters and opponents of the death penalty.

Paul Matadeen tells us about a series of bills, and how they would change the way Missouri handles capitol punishment.

Story: SB 0713
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

At the hearing... there were three bills up for discussion.

One that would eliminate the death penalty altogether...

Another that would give juries sole power to decide on capitol punishment...

And the other would stop executions until a commission studied the fairness of the death penalty.

Cary Messer is a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention and a network of other churches.

He says the system already has safeguards, and the proposed bills aren't necessary.

Actuality: CARYA.WAV
RunTime: :12
OutCue: SEE FILL
IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT SOMEONE ON DEATH ROW. AND THEN TO MAINTAIN THAT CONVICTION THROUGH THE APPEALS PROCESS, WE BELIEVE UNDERMINES THE FAITH THE CITIZENS MAINTAIN IN THE DEATH PENALTY.

(RUSHED COPY... NOT VERBATE)

The bills need committee approval before they can move to the Senate floor for debate.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

-=UPDATE 2=-

Three bills to change the death penalty come before The Senate Judiciary Committee.

Paul Matadeen tells about the bill's response at the state capitol.

Story: UPDATE 2
RunTime: APPROX :40
OutCue: SOC

So... is capitol punishment moral? Biblical? or Neither?

That's the dilemma religious organizations brought up when the committee went over three bills that would eliminate the death penalty or change the state's policy on capitol punishment.

Rita Linhart, a lobbyist for the Missouri Catholic Conference says the ends do not justify the means.

LINHART1.WAV
RunTime: :13
OutCue: SEE FILL
Contents: ((RUSH COPY... NOT VERBATE)) WE CANNOT OVERCOME CRIME SIMPLY BY EXECUTING CRIMINALS NOR CAN WE EXTEND THE LIVES OF THE INNOCENT BY ENDING THE LIVES OF THOSE CONVICTED OF THEIR MURDERS AND THE DEATH PENALTY REALLY JUST OFFERS A TRAGIC ILLUSION THAT WE CAN DEFEND LIFE BY TAKING IT.

But a lobbyist for other Christian groups said the death penalty is necessary and appropiate.

The Committee must approve the bills before they can go to the floor for debate.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

-=UPDATE 3=-

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from a man who was wrongly convicted of murder.

Paul Matadeen reports.

Story:UPDATE 3
RunTime: APPROX :40
OutCue: SOC

The committee heard testimony on three bills.

One bill would eliminate the death penalty altogether.

Another would give juries the last word on capitol punishment.

And one would institute a temporary moratorium on executions... while experts study capitol punishment.

Seventeen years ago, Joseph Amrine was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty.

He says the system needs to change.

Actuality: AMRINEA.WAV
RunTime: :07
OutCue: SEE FILL
Contents: (RUSHED SCRIPT -- NOT VERBATE) WE READ ABOUT THIS STUFF EVERYDAY AND EVERYONE SAYS THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM ITS OBVIOUS THAT IT IS BUT NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT IT.

The bills must get committee approval before heading to the floor for debate.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.