Sen. Brown stands firm against death penalty
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| Sen. Edna Brown |
An Ohio state senator from Toledo said she would not be deterred from her desire to abolish the death penalty in the state, even after the sentence of death last week for convicted killer Anthony Belton and calls by some in the public for the penalty to be carried out in his case.
Edna Brown, a Democrat who recently launched a legislative effort to end capital punishment, said she does not want to get involved in individual cases, such as the murder of store clerk Matthew Dugan by Belton during a 2008 robbery.
"I did not follow the trial, but my concern is not with individual cases," Ms. Brown said. "My concern is with the process and possibility, as I have said previously, of an innocent person being executed. Whether someone is innocent or guilty is not where I stand. The death penalty should be eliminated."
Ms. Brown said she did not watch surveillance video that shows Anthony Belton shooting Mr. Dugan. The video was used as evidence against Belton, 26, who was found guilty by a three-judge panel Wednesday of aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated robbery as well as of capital specifications and gun specifications.
Ms. Brown said the death penalty has not been a deterrent.
"Nothing in the world will prevent people from committing murder," she said. "We have the death penalty now and it has not prevented murder."
She said she also does not fear that a governor would ever release a convicted murderer such as Belton.
"I don't think that possibility would exist here in Ohio," Ms. Brown said. "There would have to be very, very extenuating circumstances and other reasons, so I don't see that possibility."
Ms. Brown said a higher homicide rate by young African-Americans males is probably connected to higher levels of poverty, but she declined to discuss the issue at length, saying she was not an expert on the matter. Belton is black.
Homicide offense rates for blacks were more than seven times higher than the rates for whites, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ms. Brown said she also understood the desire for some, such as people employed in stores like the one where Mr. Dugan, 34, was gunned down to favor the death penalty.
"They are entitled to their opinions," Ms. Brown said. "I don't wish to get into a discussion about that particular case. My concern is the process."
Ms. Brown is a sponsor of Senate Bill 270, which would strike references to capital punishment and the death penalty from state law. It is not expected to move within the Republican-controlled Senate.
Ms. Brown has said the most she hopes for now is additional hearings.
Edna Brown, a Democrat who recently launched a legislative effort to end capital punishment, said she does not want to get involved in individual cases, such as the murder of store clerk Matthew Dugan by Belton during a 2008 robbery.
"I did not follow the trial, but my concern is not with individual cases," Ms. Brown said. "My concern is with the process and possibility, as I have said previously, of an innocent person being executed. Whether someone is innocent or guilty is not where I stand. The death penalty should be eliminated."
Ms. Brown said she did not watch surveillance video that shows Anthony Belton shooting Mr. Dugan. The video was used as evidence against Belton, 26, who was found guilty by a three-judge panel Wednesday of aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated robbery as well as of capital specifications and gun specifications.
Ms. Brown said the death penalty has not been a deterrent.
"Nothing in the world will prevent people from committing murder," she said. "We have the death penalty now and it has not prevented murder."
She said she also does not fear that a governor would ever release a convicted murderer such as Belton.
"I don't think that possibility would exist here in Ohio," Ms. Brown said. "There would have to be very, very extenuating circumstances and other reasons, so I don't see that possibility."
Ms. Brown said a higher homicide rate by young African-Americans males is probably connected to higher levels of poverty, but she declined to discuss the issue at length, saying she was not an expert on the matter. Belton is black.
Homicide offense rates for blacks were more than seven times higher than the rates for whites, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ms. Brown said she also understood the desire for some, such as people employed in stores like the one where Mr. Dugan, 34, was gunned down to favor the death penalty.
"They are entitled to their opinions," Ms. Brown said. "I don't wish to get into a discussion about that particular case. My concern is the process."
Ms. Brown is a sponsor of Senate Bill 270, which would strike references to capital punishment and the death penalty from state law. It is not expected to move within the Republican-controlled Senate.
Ms. Brown has said the most she hopes for now is additional hearings.
Courtesy: ToledoBlade.com
