Connecticut this week became the 17th state to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with an ultimate punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The repeal applies only to future sentences, however. Eleven men on Connecticut’s death row still face execution. But some experts say defense attorneys could use the repeal to get those sentences converted to life terms.

Connecticut has executed only one person since 1976. –ARK

Reuters:

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the legislation without fanfare behind closed doors, saying in a statement it was “a moment for sober reflection, not celebration.”

… Calling capital punishment “one of the most compelling and vexing issues of our time,” the governor said he came to oppose capital punishment while working as a prosecutor.

“I learned firsthand that our system of justice is very imperfect,” he said. “I came to believe that doing away with the death penalty was the only way to ensure it would not be unfairly imposed.”

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#capital punishment#connecticut#death penalty#death row#life sentence#parole