After reading a Hartford Courant article about Dr. William Petit’s testimony before the Judiciary Committee on the death penalty, I got to wondering about the history of capital punishment. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes as early as the Eighteenth Century B.C. At that time, crucifixions, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement were favored methods of implementing the death penalty.

In 1608, Captain George Kendall was executed in the Jamestown colony of Virginia for being a spy for Spain. That was the first recorded execution in the new colonies. Four years later, in 1612, the Divine, Moral and Martial Laws were enacted by Virginia Governor Sir Thomas Dale. Under those laws, a person could be sentenced to the death penalty for such minor offenses as stealing grapes.

On December 26, 1862, during the Dakota War of 1862, the simultaneous hanging of 38 Dakota people convicted of murder and rape was the largest single execution in United States history.

The death penalty was suspended in the United States from 1972 through 1976 primarily as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Furman v. Georgia. The court found the imposition of the death penalty in a consolidated group of cases to be unconstitutional, on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution.

The moratorium on capital punishment ended when on January 17, 1977, Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad in Utah. His famous last words were, “Let’s do it.” Later that year, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution. On December 7, 1982, Charles Brooks became the first person executed by lethal injection in Texas.

The fate of capital punishment in Connecticut is now before the Judiciary Committee. There are strong and passionate arguments on both sides of this controversial issue. It’s anybody’s guess how this will turn out.

According to an article posted on WFSB’s website, Rep. Bye believes that all victims of childhood sexual abuse should be allowed to file a civil lawsuit no matter how old they are. There will be public hearings on the issue in the near future as the issue is slated to go before the Judiciary Committee.

“In child sexual abuse, because children repress memories, that’s exactly why we need to open up the statute of limitations because we don’t know when there might be a triggering event,” Bye said. “We’re trying to protect people who were abused as children.”

I agree wholeheartedly and applaud the efforts of Rep. Beth Bye.

Read: Some Look To Eliminate Child Sex Abuse Law

[Doris] Thompson, whose criminal record stretches back to 1955, pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking about $1,400 from the Children’s Medical Group in suburban Torrance.

[Thompson] called Deputy District Attorney Paulette Paccione “sweetie” and told the judge “God bless you” as he sentenced her to three years behind bars.

“She just likes to steal,” Paccione said Thursday. “It’s just been her occupation, I guess, for years and years and years.”

Read: 80-Year-Old Burglar To Judge: ‘God Bless You’

[Source: WFSB.com]

Read: Connecticut Bill Would Reduce Penalty For ‘Sexting’ Between Consenting Minors

Read: Cheshire Case Illustrates Jury Picking Problems

So far, only one juror has been selected.

An article in today’s Hartford Courant discusses the type of jurors that the defense and prosecution will be seeking. It comes as no surprise that their criteria differs sharply.

Read: Picking The Hayes Jury: Prosecution, Defense Have Different Criteria

[Source: courant.com]

The premise of the program is that people often make one mistake that leaves them with a criminal record and then go on to live exemplary lives. The program hopes to assist qualified applicants in obtaining a pardon and clearing their records.

Read: An Offer To Help Erase Mistakes Of The Past

[Source: Connecticut Law Tribune]

“To be found to have acted recklessly under our statutes, the state would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person was aware of and consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk,” Cohen said in a statement.

“The investigation has not discovered any evidence that Mrs. Herold was aware of the risk that the chimpanzee posed and disregarded it,” he said. “The animal had not previously exhibited violent behavior, especially toward the victim, Ms. Nash, with whom he interacted regularly, and who was present that day specifically because it was thought that she could help in controlling the chimpanzee.”

Read: No Criminal Charges To Be Filed Against Chimp Owner

[Source: The Hartford Courant]

New Hampshire’s Supreme Court recently ruled that it’s okay for a police officer to testify at a criminal trial while wearing a ski-mask to protect his identity because he was working in an undercover unit at the time of the trial.

Yes, you read that right. In State of New Hampshire v. Jose Hernandez, a police officer who had conducted an interview with the complaining witness was permitted to sit there like a cat burglar, with a ski mask on his face. The State’s reasoning – bought by the trial court – was that the officer’s identity needed to be protected. Never mind the fact that the jury viewed the interview with the complainant in which his face was uncovered and that everyone knew his name.

[Source: A Public Defender blog]

Read the Hartford Courant article here: High Court Refuses To Hold Hearing On Sex Abuse Cases

[Source: courant.com]