Death Penalty Overturned in New York.
The New York State Court of Appeals has overturned the state's death penalty law. The statute requires that juries be instructed that if they cannot reach a verdict deciding between death or life in prison without parole, that the defendant may be paroled some day. The Court finds that this provision--one that actually tells a jury the truth--violates the New York State Constitution. Base10 has to read the ruling but finds this mind-boggling. Doesn't the will of the citizens count for anything? The ruling occurred in the death penalty appeal of John Taylor who was convicted of murdering five people in a Wendy's restaurant in 2002.
- posted by Base10 @ 10:23 AM