Lawmaker Shoots to Expand Death Penalty

Compared to other states, the list of crimes that warrant the death penalty in this state is pretty narrow right now.

It includes the murder of judges and law enforcement officials, as well as murder for hire, murder connected to certain drug offenses and murder before during or after rape.

Keene Representative Delmar Burridge wants to add murder by firearm while engaged in a felony like a robbery.

Burridge told Criminal Justice Committee members that murders continue to rise and police solve fewer and fewer crimes.

He believes threatening would be murderers with a firing squad would be a more effective deterrent than lethal injection.

TAPE: we have anesthetized the idea of killing to make it seem more palpable. First we had a rope, then we had a guy be far away, throw the switch, AC or DC. Then we had the gas chamber, picture it there....urgh, urgh, urgh. For folks who use a gun, they know what that’s about....they think they are going to get the same thing back, that might just work.

New Hampshire ACLU Executive Director Claire Ebel admitted she was surprised by the legislation.

TAPE: I had to read it two or three times to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.

Ebel- who on principle opposes the death penalty- says she can’t figure out the rationale for the measure.

TAPE: strangulation. Stabbing, cutting someone’s throat and watching them bleed to death, torturing them to death. I would find all of those equally reprehensible. And so I don’t see any reason to consider that more heinous than any of the other ways we could kill someone.

Undoubtedly, if this measure passed state costs would soar.

Over the past 30 years the state has averaged about 19 murders a year.

The Public Defender says it takes about $50,000 dollars to defend a homicide case.

To put the potential price tag in context, the public defender has already spent about 1 million dollars to defend Michael Addison...and that doesn’t include forthcoming appeals.

Given the state’s budget problems, bills that require new spending don’t have a great shot this session.

Defense Attorney Michael Iacopino says if lawmakers want to take action on the death penalty they should support one of the study bills that have been filed.

He says given Addison’s verdict and John Brooks life in prison sentence, there’s increased urgency to address the policy.

TAPE: NH went the same way, if you read the studies from all over the country, was predictable. A rich white guy, eh would escape with his life. Whereas a young black male would get the death penalty...I am not attributing any bad notions to anybody, but that’s the way the death penalty works.

13-term state Representative David Welch- who long headed up the House Criminal Justice Committee- is a co-sponsor of one of the study bills.

Welch supports the death penalty as is, but believes it should be thoroughly considered given the punishment’s severity.

He says just because a jury has sentenced someone to death for the first time in almost 50 years doesn’t mean the system is broken.

TAPE: If we have an execution here in this state. It will put a whole new spin on it....those who are opposed to the death penalty will feel energized and a lot of people who are neither here nor there would get caught up in that.

Welch’s study bill will likely be heard in the next several weeks.

As for the firing squad bill, the Committee chair says it’s safe to say the measure will die a quick death.

For NHPR News, I’m DG.