Lawmakers Fight To Keep Death Penalty

As a potential repeal of the death penalty looms in Connecticut, opposing lawmakers are drafting legislation that would change the appeals process.

Representative Steve Mikutel is a Democrat from Griswold who supports the death penalty. He says voters shouldn't worry about executing innocent people in Connecticut.

"We have super due process for those who are convicted of capital felonies. Super due process," he says. "You know what I'm talking about? They have ever possible opportunity to defend themselves -- with the best possible lawyers -- at tax-payer's expense."

Mikutel stood with police and fire officials Monday in the same room where last week, religious leaders called for a repeal of the death penalty. The group assembled Monday said they would introduce an amendment limiting habeas corpus and the time to appeal for prisoners on death row.

Sargeant Rich Holton represents the Hartford Police Union. He says the issue is important to police officers because they have to deal with murders first-hand.

"Responding to a murder scene has a scarring effect on everyone who works in law enforcement," Holton says. "But to see a crime scene and then hear that the individual who committed this heinous act is going to spend the rest of their life in prison is totally absurd."

In the crowd was William Petit, the only survivor of a triple murder home invasion. the case was a focal point for many of the speakers.

Legislators say they plan to introduce the amendment next week if the bill on repealing the death penalty passes committee.