Posted on 12/17/2004 2:28:18 PM PST by Graybeard58
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The European Union has asked Connecticut's governor and parole board to delay or halt the planned execution of serial killer Michael Ross, the Dutch government said Thursday.
Ross' execution, scheduled for Jan. 26, would be the first in New England since 1960.
The Netherlands currently holds the rotating European Union presidency and issued a statement on behalf of all 25 EU member countries.
The EU, which opposes capital punishment, said in a letter to U.S. authorities that a freeze on carrying out death sentences was a "first step" toward abolition.
It asked Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, "to grant a reprieve to Mr. Ross to allow for deliberation on this complex and emotive issue." It called on the chairman of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles "to exercise all the powers vested in your office to grant clemency."
Rell, on Dec. 6, announced she would not issue a reprieve after researching case law, the constitution, state statutes and details of the murders.
"I do believe that there are crimes and actions which are so repugnant to society as to warrant the death penalty," Rell said at the time. "And this is such a case."
Rell has no power to commute Ross' death sentence. But according to the state constitution, Rell has the power to grant a reprieve that would have postponed Ross' planned Jan. 26 execution until after the next legislative session.
"Gov. Rell took an oath of office to uphold the laws of the state of Connecticut, and that is her responsibility," said Dennis Schain, the governor's spokesman, when asked about the EU letter.
Given Rell's decision against a reprieve, state lawmakers are doubtful that a bill abolishing or changing the death penalty will be approved before the Jan. 26 execution date.
Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the legislature's Judiciary Committee and someone who favors life in prison rather than the death penalty, said Rell should provide the time for the legislature to fully debate the issue.
"The involvement of the EU in this issue just underscores the fact that this is a much bigger issue than just Michael Ross," McDonald said. "And I think it's a mistake to have this debate in the context of whether Michael Ross is a good person or a bad person."
Ross admitted killing eight women in eastern Connecticut and New York in the early 1980s, and raping most of his victims. He has been in prison for 20 years for four murders.
In October, Ross told Superior Court Judge Patrick Clifford that he would not to pursue further appeals, and Clifford set an execution date.
But the judge later ordered a hearing for Dec. 28 to determine if Ross is mentally competent to make that decision.
The EU should mind its own business
What a surprise! I thought the Dutch believe in executing those deemed a burden on society. Certainly Ross is a burder on society.
Actually, I'm against the death penalty...don't want to see the state or feds with power to take human life, period. God knows they take everything else they lay their hands on. But...Eu's demand would carry more weight if they said they'd pay for this fiend's incarceration for life.
TO; EU
"NUTS!!!"
I am too but I am also against the EU sticking their noses in our business.
Let's make a deal with the EU. We'll abolish capital punishment in the US, if they illegalize abortion and infanticide (I'm looking in your direction, Holland) in their countries. Or, on the other hand, perhaps they could just shut up.
Why does the EU care about this guy? I am asking a honest question.
The only death penalty the EU and the Netherlands approve of is for the unborn, the physically/mentally handicapped and the elderly.
The Euroweenies are SO full of themselves! First they want to vote in OUR elections and now they think they can tell us what to do with deadly criminals.
As I've said before, we resolved the problem of Europeans dictating to us during the period of 1775-1783 and again from 1812-1814.
I smell a can of Whoop-Ass getting ready to be opened...again.
The Euroweenies are SO full of themselves! First they want to vote in OUR elections and now they think they can tell us what to do with deadly criminals.
As I've said before, we resolved the problem of Europeans dictating to us during the period of 1775-1783 and again from 1812-1814.
I smell a can of Whoop-Ass getting ready to be opened...again.
i would agree to it on several conditions.
The netherlands pays for the upkeep of all those that are not executed till they die + we get a 20% margin of profit per annum upon the whole of the upkeep to make sure we keep up with inflation and working costs + overall profitability.
We could make it adopt an inmate for only 100k a year any european country could subsidize out prisons. Just imagine the commercials : " for only 274 dollars a day ..."
Don't forget anti-Islamics.
ummm... Did the EU move to New England??? Memo to Europe: No.
They don't. They are like liberals everywhere, they think they know what's best for everybody and they want to impose their liberalism on everybody.
The EU, which opposes capital punishment, said in a letter to U.S. authorities that a freeze on carrying out death sentences was a "first step" toward abolition.
Well, since we're not going to abolish the death penalty, I don't see why we should take that "first step".
Truth is that if the nations of the EU were as democratic as they claim to be, more than half would have the death penalty themselves.
I am too but I am also against the EU sticking their noses in our business.
I agree with both of you.
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