Kentucky Tonight On KET
Kentucky Tonight Death Penalty Panel
Panel discusses two legislative proposals:
One to abolish the death penalty,
Another to extend the length of death penalty appeals.
“Both are lousy ideas.” Ray Larson, Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson was one of four panelists to appear on Kentucky Tonight to discuss two proposed bills which deal with the death penalty pre-filed before the Kentucky Legislature in January, 2010. Other panelists were: Donald Vish, Louisville, Ed Monahan, Kentucky’s Public Defender, and Jo Ann Phillips, Kentuckians’ Voice for Crime Victims.
Representatives Tom Burch, left, & David Floyd, right
Once again, Louisville Representative Tom Burch is trying to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky. It seems that Burch introduces this legislation every session. So, his legislation is not new.
The other, filed by Representative David Floyd of Bardstown, would prevent the death penalty against any defendant, “who at the time of the offense had a severe mental disorder or disability that ‘significantly’ impaired his or her capacity . . .”
In addition, the new death penalty prohibition proposed by Rep. Floyd would apply to all death sentences in cases since 1990. In effect, this would allow yet another new appeal for most of the defendants on Kentucky’s Death Row. I generally know who the anti-death penalty legislators are, however, Rep. Floyd appears to be a new member of anti-death penalty group,” said Larson.
This appears to be the identical legislation introduced in the last Legislative Session. Fortunately it died in Committee.
Larson said “Rep. Floyd’s proposal just isn’t necessary, since defendants can already raise mental illness as a defense.”
“It appears to be just another attempt by the anti-death penalty gang to try to prevent aggravated murderers from facing the most serious consequences of their violent acts,” said Larson. “It is clearly fodder for creative defense attorneys and their ‘hired-gun’ experts.”
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