[karkinadze]

Governor sounds death knell for executions SAYING he ''simply cannot participate in something I believe to be morally wrong'', the Oregon governor, John Kitzhaber, has declared a moratorium on the death penalty, granting a temporary reprieve for an inmate who has battled in the courts to hasten his own execution.


''The death penalty as practised in Oregon is neither fair nor just, and it is not swift or certain. It is not applied equally to all,'' Dr Kitzhaber, a Democrat, said.
''It is time for Oregon to consider a different approach. I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system any longer, and I will not allow further executions while I am governor.''

Reprieve ... convicted killer Gary Haugen's execution will not go on as scheduled next month. Photo: AP

A total of 37 inmates on Oregon's death row now face no possibility of death during his administration. Noting that inmates often spend more than 20 years on death row, Dr Kitzhaber said Oregon had an ''unworkable system that fails to meet basic standards of justice''.

Only two executions have been carried out in the 27 years since Oregon voters authorised the death penalty, both approved by Dr Kitzhaber and both involving inmates who had waived further appeals.
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''It is a perversion of justice that the single best indicator of who will and will not be executed has nothing to do with the circumstances of a crime or the findings of a jury. The only factor that determines whether someone sentenced to death in Oregon is actually executed is that they volunteer.'' Full article @ the Age

[KRbGA0Bg]

Necessity imports privilege. Says it all.

[KevinDonae]

Snuff a handful of the chozen ones and see how fast you ride the lighting.