CONNECTICUT:

Ross Execution Called State-sponsored Murder----Death-penalty foe speaks out against 'bad public policy'

If Gov. M. Jodi Rell truly believes that the execution of Michael Ross is good public policy, then she should "be on site at 2:01 a.m. Jan. 26,  2005 to push the button" to start the chemicals that will kill him flowing in his veins, a leading opponent of the state's death penalty said Tuesday
night.

In an impassioned speech to students at Trinity College, Robert Nave, executive director of the Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty, said he was calling on the governor to stand behind her decision to let the execution of Ross go forward rather than delay his execution until the General Assembly had a chance to reconsider the law.

Rell's statement Monday, in which she said she was "taking emotion out of the process" of making her decision, was like a "kick in the stomach," Nave said, because not only did she then proceed to give nothing but emotional reasons for her decision - "he deserves it; he committed heinous crimes" - but she promised to veto any legislation aimed at overturning
the death penalty in Connecticut.

"If it's good public policy, then why isn't the execution at noon?"  Nave asked. "And why isn't it televised?"

Ross, 45, has been sentenced to death for the murder of 4 young women in the early 1980s - Leslie Shelley and April Brunais, both 14; Robin Stavinsky, 19; and Wendy Baribeault, 17 - all of whom he kidnapped and 3 of whom he raped. He also is serving 2 life sentences for the rapes and murders of 2 women in Windham County.

If his execution goes forth as scheduled Jan. 26, it will be the 1st execution in the state, and New England, since 1960.

Nave said he visits Ross "weekly" in prison and that when he last visited him on Sunday, Ross was determined to go through with his own execution.

He described Ross as "extremely bright and knowledgeable" but also argued that Ross is mentally ill. And just as society should not execute those with mental retardation, he said, neither should it execute the mentally ill.

"It is state-sponsored murder, and in this case it will be helping Michael Ross commit suicide on January 26th," he said.

Nave repeatedly stressed that he feels no sympathy for Ross or any of the other inmates on death row, and that his objections to their executions is based entirely on the fact that it is "bad public policy."

For one thing, he said, it is arbitrary, being both geographically and racially unfair. In Connecticut, for example, almost all of the men on death row are there for murdering white people.

"A black life or a Latino life is nowhere near as important as a white
life," he said.

Also, 5 out of the 7 inmates on death row were convicted in Waterbury, simply because the prosecutor there is more aggressive than others in the state, Nave said. "So don't commit murder in Waterbury," he said.

Furthermore, Nave said, the death penalty is not a deterrent. It has done nothing to deter murders in Texas, for example, which executes inmates on a regular basis. When President Bush was governor of Texas, Nave said, he presided over 152 executions, more than any governor in the nation's history. And yet the murder rate in Texas has increased over the past 10 years.

Ross is scheduled to die by lethal injection, a process in which a series of three drugs will be injected into his veins. One of the drugs is illegal for veterinarians to use because its use is considered cruel, Nave said.

Nor does the death penalty provide closure to families of victims, Nave argued. "If Michael Ross were sentenced to life without parole, he never would have been heard from again," and the families of the victims could have moved on with their lives, "but here we are, 20 years later, and I feel sympathy for the victim's families," he said.

Nave appealed to the 17 students attending his speech to support his cause.

"I need the support of the people in this room to spread the message," he said. "This is a grassroots effort."

Nave, a single father, has been working to overturn the death penalty in Connecticut for several years, both as a representative of Amnesty International and with the Connecticut Network. He described how difficult it has been to explain to his sons, 12 and 14, that the state is going to
"take the life of one of its citizens."

"Where do we stop?" he asked. "Why not kill drunk drivers who kill people? They got on the road, they knew what they were doing. They've committed murder, but we say, 'They were drunk.'"

(source: The Day)

If any one has any question regarding Death Row Inmates or any information regarding the death penalty, Please Contact

Robert Nave, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator
Connecticut-Amnesty International
Executive Director
Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
32 Grand Street; Hartford, CT 06106, www.cnadp.org
robertnave@cnadp.org 203-206-9854
www.DontKillInMyNameCT.org

To visit the group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnadp

                          

 

 

Amnesty International Death Penalty Facts

 

Connecticut's History On Prisons

In The First Century

 

History of the Death Penalty

  

Post-Furman Botched Executions

 

 

Connecticut and the Death Penalty

Connecticut allows the death penalty as an option in the following cases:

murder of a public safety or correctional officer, murder for pecuniary gain,
murder committed during the course of a felony,
murder by a defendant with a previous conviction for intentional murder,
murder while under a life sentence,
murder committed during a kidnapping,
illegal sale of cocaine, methadone or heroin to a person who dies from using these drugs,
murder during first-degree sexual assault,
multiple murders.

The sentence is death by lethal injection.

Minimum age for death penalty: 18

Executions 1608-1976: 126

Executions since 1977: 0

 

Connecticut

Minimum Age to Receive the Death Penalty: (18) Does Connecticut Forbid the Execution of the Mentally Retarded: (Yes) Death Row Location: Somers, CT Method of Execution: Lethal Injection Date Death Penalty Was Reenacted after Furman: 10/ 1/ 73 Year of Last Execution: 1960 Does Connecticut Have Life Without Parole: (Yes) Clemency Process: The Board of Pardons has full authority to grant clemency. The Governor's only authority is his or her ability to grant reprieves. The reprieve is limited to the end of the following session of the general assembly. Capital Offenses: Capital Felony with 9 categories of aggravated homicide. (C.G.S. 53a-54b) Is Felony Murder a Capital Crime: Yes.  However, capital felony murder includes only homicides associated with the commission of three specific offenses: kidnapping; illegal sale of cocaine, heroin, or methadone; or first-degree sexual assalut.  (C.G.S. 53a-54b) (Criminal Law Bulletin, "Dimensions of Capital Murder" Acker and Lanier, 1993) Who Decides Sentence: Jury Additional Information:  Connecticut Commission Releases Results of State Death Penalty Study      The Connecticut Commission on the Death Penalty submitted its report, "Study of the Imposition of the Death Penalty in Connecticut," to the state General Assembly on January 8, 2003. The Commission was created in 2001 by the General Assembly to study the state's capital punishment system and report back with findings and recommendations.  The report found racial and geographic disparities in the imposition of Connecticut's death penalty, and called for further study. Among the report's findings are: 86% of the crimes resulting in a death sentence involved a white victim 89% of the 166 capital prosecutions since the state reinstated the death penalty in 1973 came from just six judicial districts, and 40% came from Hartford alone.    The Commission's report provided legislative recommendations for improving the state's capital punishment system, including: an increase in hourly rates for public defenders in death penalty cases; reinstating proportionality review of each death sentence to ensure that it is not excessive or disproportionate to the sentence imposed in similar cases; video or audio taping of police interrogations and conducting "blind" lineups; mandating pre-trial determinations by capital trial judges to decide the reliability and admissibility of jailhouse informant testimony; preservation of biological evidence; and making DNA testing available to defendants. (State of Connecticut Commission on the Death Penalty, Study Pursuant to Public Act No. 01-151 of the Imposition of the Death Penalty in Connecticut, January 8, 2003). State Groups   Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty

 Death row inmates are alone in a cell 23 hours out of every day.  As are most inmates here in the state of Connecticut.   Often the highlight of their day is when they receive mail, a brief reprieve from the outside world in an otherwise lonely and isolated existence.    A few words, a postcard, and the fact that you took a moment to write can mean a great deal.     You can make a difference.    MTWT  encourages you to write.   Don't prejudge.    You may be surprised,  and make a good friend !
Please remember, if you write: this is an important undertaking- your friendship is important to inmates, they can begin to count on your letters and it is emotionally upsetting for them to be forgotten after just a few letters.
It is a commitment  not to be taken too lightly.    If you write, please remember that  death row inmates, just like all other inmates in this state have to purchase their own stamps, writing paper and even toiletries... send a few US stamps along with your letter  if you can,  ( most prisons allow this, check with the inmate first to make sure. )  Remember that your friendship is what is most valuable to them.
Prison rules state that you must be eighteen (18) years of age to correspond with inmates.

 

CONNECTICUT'S Death Row Inmates

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Todd Joseph Rizzo - Death Row
Todd Joseph Rizzo was born born on October 11th 1978,and has been on CT's row since June 23 1999.
" I love tattoos, piercings, country and R&B music. I love animals & I love to work out. I will write back to whomever. "  Visit his page to see his Photo's and pen-pal request. 

 

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Michael Ross - Death Row
Michael is a death row prisoner and an admitted serial killer who was the first man in years to be sentenced to death in the state of Connecticut.   Michael has become an accomplished writer during his time on death tow, and has been published in the Utne Reader, The Journal of Psychiatry and Law, and several other publications. Visit his page for photo's, his writings, news articles and more. 

Jan 31th, 2005                              Feb 2, 2005  
Ross Execution Canceled          Ross Execution Puts Spotlight On 'Death Row Syndrome'        Web Site of Michael Ross

 Court Rejects Last-Minute Bid To Stop Ross Execution                                   Death Penalty Foes Begin 30-Mile March 

                                                                                                                                                           Protest as Ross Execution Nears  

  

 Connecticut Serial Killers Victim Speaks Against Death Penalty

                             

  The Execution Of Michael Ross                    New England grapples over Execution

     

 Ross Case Shows The need for Reform     

New Haven Register - Lethal injection not necessarily humane death
 

 

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Daniel Webb - Death Row
 Hi, my name is Daniel, an American-African. I'm 6'2" tall and 225 lbs, very athletically built with light complexion skin and brown eyes. Please see photos on my webpage for a better description. I'm looking to correspond, and possibly start a long lasting friendship with someone like you. Age, race, and body types are not an issue. 

 CSAO: State of Connecticut v. Daniel Webb        Court TV Library: Death Penalty
 

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 Robert Breton in 1989, for murdering his ex-wife Joanne and son Robert, Jr. in 1987.
  Wtnh.com, Connecticut News and Weather - State Supreme Court denies appeals in double murder case                       Court TV Library: Death Penalty
 
 

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        Sedrick Cobb in 1991, for the 1989 kidnap, sexual assault, and murder of Julia Ashe.

Boston.com / News / Local / Conn. / Death row inmate claims he had inadequate defense during penalty phase

Boston.com / News / Local / Conn. / Cobb joins Ross in saying he wants to drop appeals and face execution

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Richard Reynolds in 1995, for the 1992 murder of Waterbury Police Officer Walter Williams.
 The Bristol Press - Death penalty cases often costly, futile, say some attorneys

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 Ivo Colon in 2000, for the 1998 murder of Keriana Tellado.

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Robert Courchesne, on December 17, 2003, for the September 15, 1998 murders of Demetris Rodgers (eight months pregnant) and her unborn baby who was delivered by emergency Caesarean section minutes after her death, but died 42 days later.

 

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  Re-Sentenced or Released
 

                                RE-SENTENCED TO LIFE
Terry Johnson - Death Row
Terry Johnson had been on death row in Connecticut for 7 years, since his arrest in 1991.
His sentence was reduced in May, 2000 to life in prison without parole. Terry was a spec. in the Connecticut Army National Guard, and was in the Connecticut Guard for about three years until his arrest.  Terry is 30 years old and the father of two daughters.  His page includes many photos, and his pen-pal request.  Poetry by Terry coming soon ! Terry writes often to me here at MTWT and has become a good friend.

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    The Governor

     Governor M. Jodi Rell
       Governor's Office
        State Capitol
       210 Capitol Avenue
       Hartford, CT
        06106   USA
         Phone: 860-566-4840
       E-Mail:
 

Connecticut Department of Corrections

 

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 Other Links to Connecticut Death Row Resources

      

Michael Ross Essay - Victims Find Healing Through Forgiveness

  Connecticut Anti-Death Penalty Organizations / Advocates

Abolish Connecticut's Death Penalty

Visit MTWT'S Section on The Tools of Corrections

 

                                   Related News Articles/Stories

OLR Research Report - Connecticut Death Row Inmates
Connecticut Death Row Inmates - by A.P
Connecticut Attorney Gen Statement on Refusing to Let D.R.Prisoner Attend Mothers Funeral
Connecticut Supreme Court Calls the Death Penalty Constitutional - From Court TV
INsider Magazine - The Death Penalty Debate, with an essay by prisoner Michael Ross
An Eye For An Eye - Reflections On The Death Penalty - The Unitarian Society of New Haven
Helen Prejean speaks at Connecticut's Wesleyan University
Ward Votes To Strengthen Connecticut's Death Penalty
Death To Capital Punishment or Not ? - News 12 Connecticut
The Executioners Song - Fairfield County Weekly
No Verdict Yet In Chastity West Case
Hartford / Connecticut Poll - Most Support Capital Punishment
Special Panel Gets Breton Capital Punishment Case - News-Times Regional News
My Journey Toward the Light: A View from Death Row  By Michael Ross

 

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                Meet The Texecutioner President George W. Bush
                
              152 People Killed as Governor... More than any elected official in US History!

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                The CCADP offers free webpages to over 500 Death Row Prisoners
                                              Contact us for more information.
            
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