Convicted Murderers Speak Out on Moratorium

Intro: With only six weeks remaining in the legislature, a bill that would create a moratorium of the death penalty until 2012 in Missouri may have arrived too late. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:45
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The bill sponsored by Republican Representative Bill Deeken would also establish a ten-member bipartisan commission that would review death penalty cases to ensure adequate counsel and innocence.

Democratic St. Louis Representative Jamilah Nasheed said more action on the death penalty needs to be taken.

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Description: This is a non-partisan issue. This is not about black or white. This is not about individuals who have been product of a crime versus an individual who hasn't been. This is clearly about justice versus injustice. And I truly believe that at some point we have to take this argument outside of the committee room to the third floor of the House.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.

Intro: Republican sponsorship of a death penalty moratorium in Missouri comes only six weeks before the end of the legislative session with little hope of passage. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:44
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The 46 Missouri inmates on death row would not be put to death during a moratorium that would last till Jan. 1, 2012 if Republican Representative Bill Deeken's bill gets passed.

Missouri citizen and death penalty opponent Gabrielle Peton became emotional when discussing the futility of the Missouri legislature.

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Description: Here we are in another year, speaking and listening to the pros and cons of a mere moratorium to review the consequences of punishment with the death penalty. Another bill, with another number. Doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results. This is the definition of insanity.

This moratorium bill comes late on the heels of debate about whether the issue of the death penalty is being ignored.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.

Intro: Falsely convicted killers who were released after a decade in jail supported a bill that would create a moratorium on the death penalty in Missouri. Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:0:43
OutCue: SOC

Republican Representative Bill Deeken proposed a bill that would create a moratorium period of the death penalty until Jan. 1, 2012.

Deeken's bill would create a commission of ten members to analyze all death penalty cases throughout Missouri to ensure fairness and accuracy.

Falsely accused Kevin Green, who spent 16 years in jail for the murder of his daughter, had this to say:

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Description: We need a commission like this to take a look. Do something that's never been done: take a look. Is this current system a fair administration of justice? Is there racism? I don't know. We can talk about numbers and statistics. This is a way of finding out.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne.