Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 24, 2006 4:58:32 GMT -5
Death Penalty Debate Just Beginning
Today`s verdict for Alfonso Rodriguez may restart a debate on whether North Dakota should have the death penalty. Today a jury decided Rodriguez should be executed for the kidnapping of UND student Dru Sjodin almost three years ago.
Rodriguez`s case was in federal court, and the federal government has the death penalty. But North Dakota doesn`t have it. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says that may be reconsidered. Stenehjem says the killing of Sjodin and the recent slaying of Valley City State University student Mindy Morgenstern may raise support for the death penalty.
Governor Hoeven says he personally supports letting North Dakota have the death penalty. But he says he`s not going to propose it to the Legislature next year.
Rodriguez defense attorney Robert Hoy argued against the death penalty. He`s hoping the Sjodin case will spark a debate in North Dakota about whether it is necessary. The Legislature hasn`t debated the death penalty since 1995. It was defeated in the North Dakota Senate. Stenehjem was a state senator then, and he led the opposition to the death penalty.
www.kfyrtv.com/news_stories.asp?news=3119
Today`s verdict for Alfonso Rodriguez may restart a debate on whether North Dakota should have the death penalty. Today a jury decided Rodriguez should be executed for the kidnapping of UND student Dru Sjodin almost three years ago.
Rodriguez`s case was in federal court, and the federal government has the death penalty. But North Dakota doesn`t have it. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says that may be reconsidered. Stenehjem says the killing of Sjodin and the recent slaying of Valley City State University student Mindy Morgenstern may raise support for the death penalty.
Governor Hoeven says he personally supports letting North Dakota have the death penalty. But he says he`s not going to propose it to the Legislature next year.
Rodriguez defense attorney Robert Hoy argued against the death penalty. He`s hoping the Sjodin case will spark a debate in North Dakota about whether it is necessary. The Legislature hasn`t debated the death penalty since 1995. It was defeated in the North Dakota Senate. Stenehjem was a state senator then, and he led the opposition to the death penalty.
www.kfyrtv.com/news_stories.asp?news=3119