Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 17, 2006 23:20:24 GMT -5
The lone Canadian on America's death row faces a critical hearing next
month that could overturn his sentence or put him a final step closer to
an execution date.
Lawyers for Ronald Allen Smith, an Alberta native who kidnapped and killed
2 cousins in Montana in 1982, will make oral arguments against his capital
punishment in Federal District Court on Oct. 18. Smith, who just turned
49, has been on death row in Montana for 23 years for murdering Harvey Mad
Man Jr. and Thomas Running Rabbit Jr. in a bid to steal their car.
At the time, Smith confessed he "wanted to find out what it would be like
to kill somebody," and requested the death penalty, but later changed his
mind and has been fighting his death sentence in court since.
But Montana's assistant attorney general Mark Fowler said Smith has few
legal options left after exhausting most avenues of appeal.
"They are fairly limited," Fowler said in an interview from Helena,
Montana's capital.
If Smith chooses to continue his legal fight, an execution date could
still be a couple of years away.
His final option will be a petition for clemency to the governor of
Montana.
Tracey Lamourie, co-founder of the Canadian Coalition Against the Death
Penalty, urged the federal government to start making noise in the U.S. to
ensure Smith isn't executed.
Canada should also assist by providing top-notch lawyers to help with his
proceedings, she said, noting that death row inmates are often
inadequately represented because of their lack of financial resources.
"Even if someone might be guilty, there are often legal cases where you
could drive a truck through," Lamourie said. "They should have someone
looking at every single avenue."
Fowler said the state of Montana has ended a 40-year hiatus on the death
penalty, most recently executing multiple-murderer David Dawson on Aug.
10.
(source: Edmonton Sun)
month that could overturn his sentence or put him a final step closer to
an execution date.
Lawyers for Ronald Allen Smith, an Alberta native who kidnapped and killed
2 cousins in Montana in 1982, will make oral arguments against his capital
punishment in Federal District Court on Oct. 18. Smith, who just turned
49, has been on death row in Montana for 23 years for murdering Harvey Mad
Man Jr. and Thomas Running Rabbit Jr. in a bid to steal their car.
At the time, Smith confessed he "wanted to find out what it would be like
to kill somebody," and requested the death penalty, but later changed his
mind and has been fighting his death sentence in court since.
But Montana's assistant attorney general Mark Fowler said Smith has few
legal options left after exhausting most avenues of appeal.
"They are fairly limited," Fowler said in an interview from Helena,
Montana's capital.
If Smith chooses to continue his legal fight, an execution date could
still be a couple of years away.
His final option will be a petition for clemency to the governor of
Montana.
Tracey Lamourie, co-founder of the Canadian Coalition Against the Death
Penalty, urged the federal government to start making noise in the U.S. to
ensure Smith isn't executed.
Canada should also assist by providing top-notch lawyers to help with his
proceedings, she said, noting that death row inmates are often
inadequately represented because of their lack of financial resources.
"Even if someone might be guilty, there are often legal cases where you
could drive a truck through," Lamourie said. "They should have someone
looking at every single avenue."
Fowler said the state of Montana has ended a 40-year hiatus on the death
penalty, most recently executing multiple-murderer David Dawson on Aug.
10.
(source: Edmonton Sun)