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| Death penalty petition approved by state board |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 04/19/2004 |
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A Michigan group seeking a statewide vote on allowing the death penalty for those convicted of killing police or corrections officers had their petition forms approved by a state board last Monday. The action by the Board of State Canvassers formalizes a petition drive that began last month. Supporters must gather at least 317,757 valid signatures of registered voters by July 6 to put the issue on the Nov. 2 ballot. The effort to end the state's 158-year-old ban on the death penalty in certain cases is backed by relatives and supporters of slain Detroit police officer Matthew Bowens. His family has called for adoption of capital punishment in Michigan since the 21-year-old officer and his partner Jennifer Fettig, 26, were shot to death Feb. 16 during an early morning traffic stop. Eric Marshall, 23, of Detroit is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges and faces mandatory life in prison if convicted. Efforts to place the issue before voters through the state House have failed twice in the past five years. The latest effort, in March, received a 55-52 vote in the House. It was 18 votes short of the 73 needed for a two-thirds majority to move it on to the Senate. |
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