Conn. House to vote on death penalty repeal bill – advocates push for passage

Posted Apr 11, 2012 @ 06:20 AM

Hartford, Conn. —

A bill that would abolish Connecticut’s death penalty for all future cases is facing its second vote in the General Assembly.

Members of the state’s House of Representatives are scheduled to take up the legislation in the Wednesday afternoon session.
Read more: Conn. House to vote on death penalty repeal bill – Norwich, CT – The Bulletin http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x898665562/Conn-House-to-vote-on-death-penalty-repeal-bill#ixzz1rkZRSZxW

Richmond Times-Disp – McDonnell signs bill giving $1 million to Haynesworth

R0406 HAYN

Credit: Haynesworth

By: Olympia Meola | Times-Dispatch
Published: April 06, 2012

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed legislation providing more than $1 million in compensation for Thomas E. Haynesworth, who served 27 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in connection with rapes in the 1980s.

Senate Bill 41 provides $1,075,178 to Haynesworth, who was released from prison in March 2011 after DNA evidence exonerated him in a series of attacks in Richmond and Henrico County. He has since been declared innocent by the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Reached Thursday, Haynesworth said that he was content with the outcome.

“It’s not what it could have been, but it’s all right, I’m content with it,” he said.

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CNN – Connecticut may be latest state to repeal death penalty

Gov. Dannel Malloy said he'll sign a bill banning the death penalty in Connecticut if it reaches his desk.
Gov. Dannel Malloy said he’ll sign a bill banning the death penalty in Connecticut if it reaches his desk.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The bill enjoys majority support in each chamber of the state legislature
  • Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has vowed to sign the measure into law
  • If passed, Connecticut would be 5th state in 5 years to abolish capital punishment

(CNN) — The Connecticut Senate on Thursday voted to repeal the death penalty, setting the stage for Connecticut to join several states that have recently abolished capital punishment.

In the last five years, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Illinois have repealed the death penalty. California voters will decide the issue in November.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is also expected to pass. Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has vowed to sign the measure into law should it reach his desk, his office said.

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