Story Archives of 'Death Penalty'

Last week the State House voted to abolish capital punishment for the the second time in a decade. But death penalty opponents still have a hard fight ahead of them: the bill will face a tough time in the Senate and the governor has alluded to vetoing the measure if it reaches his desk. We’ll look at the deep emotions and politics behind this latest vote and what may happen next to the bill.

Guests

• Arnie Alpert, New Hampshire Program Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, and a member of the steering committee of the New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
• David Hess, Republican state representative from Hooksett, Deputy Republican Leader and author of the original death penalty bill in 1974

We'll also be joined by

• Dan Gorenstein, NHPR reporter

Democratic State Representative Robert Cushing speaks on the State House floor on a bill to repeal the death penalty in New Hampshire.

House lawmakers heard testimony on legislation today to expand the state’s death penalty.

It’s one of a few bills this year that deals with capital punishment.

A Hillsborough County jury has sentenced Michael Addison to death for the 2006 murder of Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs.

NHPR Correspondent Ellen Grimm has been following the trial and has this report.

Although it’s legal in New Hampshire, the state hasn’t executed anyone in almost seventy years. In fact, we don’t even have the current facilities to carry it out, if a capital punishment sentence was handed down. But the Michael Addison case may change that. He’s been convicted of killing Manchester police officer Michael Briggs, and the jury is still out as to what sentence he’ll receive. The case has restarted a debate on whether the death penalty is a just punishment and if it is, who should qualify for it.

Guests

• Jim Splaine, Democratic state representative from Portsmouth; he plans to bring up two bills regarding capital punishment in the next legislative year
• Joe Kenney, Republican state senator from Wakefield and 2008 candidate for governor; in the last legislative session, he brought up a bill to expand statutes regarding the death penalty

We'll also hear from

• Kathryn Marchocki, staff reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader