NEW MEXICO (USA). HOUSE PASSES DEATH PENALTY REPEAL BILL

February 12, 2007: the House of Representatives voted to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico on a 41-28 decision. In place of the death penalty, the bill would create a new penalty of a "true life" sentence without the possibility of parole.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation was defeated in the Judiciary Committee in 2005.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, argued that the death penalty does not serve as a deterrent to future crimes. She said research shows it has been applied unevenly, with crimes involving minority defendants and Anglo victims much more likely to involve the death penalty. And, she said it was far more expensive to try a death-penalty case than one involving a life sentence. (Sources: Sun-News, 13/02/2007)