Dozens rally to repeal the death penalty

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - More than 100 Connecticut residents who have lost a loved one to murder made a plea for the repeal of the state's death penalty on Wednesday.

179 Connecticut residents who have had family members murdered have signed the letter to lawmakers.

Victoria Coward and her family came to the Capitol Wednesday on a mission to repeal the state's death penalty law.    
         
Her 18 year old son, Tyler, was gunned down five years ago. It happened near Edgewood Park in New Haven and she says her family is still suffering because the system seems to makes celebrities out of those that commit some murders, while families like hers just suffer and get no help.

"We're here to tell our lawmakers here in Connecticut that the death penalty is literally a crime on top of a crime," said Elizabeth Brancato, the daughter of a murder victim.
        
Coward has joined 178 other men and women who have lost loved ones to murder and want the millions spent defending capitol punishment cases to be spent on victims instead.

"Please help us, my children need a chance, I need a chance," Coward said.

"The death penalty is not given out equally," said Khalilah Brown-Dean, the cousin of a murder victim. "It's about saying certain cases are more important than others, certain crimes are more heinous than others. We see that there's bias in terms of class, social class and gender and for families it's really a slap in our face."
        
The families chose Wednesday because the State Senate was in session and because two members whose votes are considered crucial are wavering.
        
Republican State Senator Andrew Roraback has supported repeal in the past, but now wants to link his vote to repealing a law passed last year that allows some violent offenders to get out early for good behavior.

"The only opportunity I have to call that issue to the attention of my colleagues and the public is to join that issue with the issue of whether or not the death penalty should be repealed," Roraback said.
        
And then there's Democratic State Senator Edith Prague who last year switched from being a repeal backer to opponent after Dr. William Petit made a personal appeal to her.
        
Today some of the murder victim family members for repeal begged her to support them.

"It's certainly giving me more to think about," Prague said. "I will continue to listen to both sides of this issue."

Roraback says his new position on death penalty repeal is not related to the fact that he is running for Congress in the 5th District. One of his Republican opponents in that race has been critical of his past support for repeal.