Death Penalty Repeal Favored By Senate Committee in NH

CONCORD, NH — The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted in favor of abolishing the death penalty in a vote Tuesday morning. The bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives last month, is now scheduled to go before the full Senate.

WMUR has reported that the bill passed in a 4-1 vote, with Sen. Sharon Carson being the only committee member voting against it. As proposed, House Bill 455 would replace the death penalty with life in prison without chance of parole as punishment for capital murder. If passed, the proposed law would not take effect for Michael Addison, the only man currently on death row in New Hampshire.

The House already has approved the bill in a 279-88 vote last month. The vote reached more than two-thirds majority need to override Gov. Chris Sununu's expected veto. The Senate is expected to reach a two-thirds majority as well.