Virginia Governor Commutes Death Sentence of Mentally Ill Inmate
Church applauds Governors display of compassion - urges reforms to prevent future issues.
Washington, DC, June 12, 2008 --(PR.com)-- In a letter sent today to Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine, Archbishop Michael Seneco, presiding archbishop of the North American Old Catholic Church, congratulated the Governor for commuting the death penalty of Mr. Percy Walton.
Mr. Walton was scheduled to be put to death on June 10th, for committing three murders in Danville, VA in 1996. the Governor commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because Mr. Walton suffers from schizophrenia.
In the letter, the Archbishop urged the governor to introduce two pieces of legislation to the Virginia General Assembly making health care for those suffering from mental illness free and easily accessible, and to have the sentencing guidelines used by the court system modified to prohibit judges from sentencing criminals to death if a diagnosed mental illness is a contributing factor.
The full text of the letter is available at http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com
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Mr. Walton was scheduled to be put to death on June 10th, for committing three murders in Danville, VA in 1996. the Governor commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because Mr. Walton suffers from schizophrenia.
In the letter, the Archbishop urged the governor to introduce two pieces of legislation to the Virginia General Assembly making health care for those suffering from mental illness free and easily accessible, and to have the sentencing guidelines used by the court system modified to prohibit judges from sentencing criminals to death if a diagnosed mental illness is a contributing factor.
The full text of the letter is available at http://newsroom.naoldcatholic.com
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Contact
North American Old Catholic Church
Archbishop Michael Seneco
202-536-2430
www.naoldcatholicchurch.com
Archbishop Michael Seneco
202-536-2430
www.naoldcatholicchurch.com
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