U.S. - Events give 101 reasons to end death penalty, cardinal says

WASHINGTON - The recent exoneration of the 100th death-row inmate and the release of the report from the Illinois Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment add up to "101 reasons to abandon the death penalty," according to the head of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Policy. In an April 24 statement, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington said the two news items help illustrate the need to limit and end the death penalty.

On April 9, Ray Krone was freed by the state of Arizona after serving 10 years in prison for rape and murder. DNA tests vindicated him and pointed to another inmate as the likely person who sexually assaulted and killed a Phoenix waitress in 1991.

 His release marked the 100th death-row inmate in recent years to have been exonerated after conviction. A few days later, the Illinois commission recommended 85 steps intended to avoid wrongful convictions, prevent prosecutorial misconduct and ensure defendants are represented by competent counsel. It also recommended reducing the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty from 20 to five.