ILLINOIS BILL ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY IN HOUSE PASSES. HURDLES STILL TO BE CLEARED; DNA IMPACT A FACTOR; CHICAGO TRBUNE;

"The capital punishment ban still has some hurdles to clear. But the vote represented a growing recognition that DNA and improved technology in criminal science have exposed an uncertainty in verdicts that cannot be reversed once a death sentence is carried out."

REPORTERS RAY LONG AND TODD WILSON; CHICAGO TRIBUNE;

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"SPRINGFIELD — — The death penalty would be abolished in Illinois under legislation the House approved for the first time Thursday, but the ban's fate is uncertain in the final days of the General Assembly's lame-duck session," the Chcago Tribune story by reporters Ray Long and Todd Wilson published on January 6, 2011 begins, under the heading, "Illinois House votes to abolish death penalty: Historic move now goes to the state Senate."

"The historic vote comes 10 years after then-Gov. George Ryan placed a moratorium on the death penalty following revelations that several people sent to death row were not guilty," the story continues.

"The capital punishment ban still has some hurdles to clear. But the vote represented a growing recognition that DNA and improved technology in criminal science have exposed an uncertainty in verdicts that cannot be reversed once a death sentence is carried out.

"You can release an innocent person from prison, but you can't release them from the grave," said Gordon "Randy" Steidl, who spent 17 years in prison, including 12 on death row, after he was wrongfully convicted of a 1986 double-murder.

The partial victory for death-penalty opponents did not come easily. The proposal fell one vote short of passing the first time, but got the extra vote needed a short time later.

Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-Maywood, said she thought she had the votes to pass the plan on the first go-round, but that some "didn't find their way."

During the second vote, several lawmakers either switched positions or failed to vote. But in the end, supporters collected the 60 votes they needed to pass the House. Fifty-four House members voted against it.

Opponents argued that the death penalty should remain in place as the ultimate punishment for the most heinous crimes. They pointed to a recent spate of murders of Chicago police officers, saying cop killers should not be let off with life in prison.

Republican Rep. Jim Sacia, a former FBI agent from Pecatonica, said threatening defendants with the death penalty often can make them talk to authorities to help solve crimes.

"Don't take that tool from law enforcement," Sacia said.

Others said they supported the idea of the death penalty, but couldn't in good faith allow for executions when it has been proved that Illinois' system is broken.

"I could administer the death penalty myself to a cop killer or a serial murder and sleep like a baby at night if I knew without a doubt of their guilt," said Rep. Susana Mendoza, D-Chicago, who is running for city clerk. "(But) we've come horrifyingly close to executing innocent men, and it could happen again.""

The story can be found at:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-06/news/ct-met-illinois-house-death-penalty-v20110106_1_penalty-gordon-randy-steidl-historic-vote

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;