Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 2, 1992 TAG: 9201020059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
EXECUTION BY INJECTION FINDS FAVOR
A majority of lawmakers responding to a survey said they support replacing Virginia's electric chair with lethal injection, which some said is a more humane method of execution.Fifty-six legislators answered the death penalty question put by The Richmond News Leader's annual legislative survey. Of those, 29 said they would support a change to lethal injection.
Six other legislators said they see no difference between the methods and thus probably would not oppose changing the method. One legislator said he is leaning toward supporting the change.
Nineteen legislators said they would oppose the change, and one said he is leaning toward opposing it. Others left the question blank.
Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, proposed changing the method of execution during the 1991 General Assembly session. The proposal died in the House Courts of Justice Committee.
Hamilton told the newspaper he plans to try again this year. But he said he may include a provision allowing the jury or judge to decide which form of execution to use.
In August, death row inmate Derick L. Peterson had to be given two jolts of electricity - 7 1/2 minutes apart - before he was pronounced dead.
Hamilton said he would use that example during debate on the measure this year. The new legislative session convenes this month.
Hamilton also cited the October 1990 electrocution of Wilbur Evans, during which blood streamed from the condemned man's nose.
"A lethal injection may be the most humane form of execution," wrote Sen.-elect Walter Stosch, R-Henrico, who said he supports the change.
Del. Jay DeBoer, D-Petersburg, said he would oppose a change.
"What difference does it make?" DeBoer wrote. "Dead is dead. The public doesn't care about `humaneness' in executions."