CT Rep. wants to repeal death penalty

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) - The debate over repealing the state's death penalty is expected to resume as soon as next month.          

Citing the Cheshire case, Governor Jodi Rell voted a repeal bill in 2009, but now, Governor Malloy is in office and he supports repeal.

The young New Haven state rep that got the repeal bill through the Assembly three years ago is ready to go again.

For those who think Dr. Petit's days of walking into court houses are over, think again. With the nearly endless possible appeals in death penalty cases, chances are that Petit will be doing this for the rest of his life.

It is estimated that each death penalty case costs Connecticut between 4 and 7 million dollars. The likely hood of Komisarjevsky being strapped down in the Connecticut death chamber during Dr. Petit's lifetime are also remote because the process can take so long.
      
Those who favor repeal of the death penalty are planning to bring the bill up as soon as next month.

"I believe the death penalty is wrong for all," said Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield to News 8's Mark Davis. But it was not specified as to whether or not it is wrong for Hayes and Komisarjevsky.
      
Many say the legislature should just do something to make death penalty cases faster, and that public opinion still supports the death penalty.

"The question that is before the state is not 'death penalty or no death penalty,' but 'death penalty or life without the possibility of parole. So if people are pushing the polls as one way to know what's going on then I say the state is split on it," said Holder-Winfield.       
      
Last year the repeal bill failed because State Senator Edith Prague changed her vote after a personal appeal from Dr. Petit. She returned to the Capitol today after recovering from a stroke last month and indicated that she could change her vote again.

"I have given this a lot of soul searching and a lot of time, and I will continue to do that before I make a decision," said Prague.

"Komisarjevsky, Hayes are in prison, they never can kill again. The state doesn't need to kill them.  That action has been taken, as horrible as it is. It doesn't need to happen. It doesn't make us any safer," said Holder-Winfield.