The Birmingham News reports, "Bill to increase number of witnesses to execution passes Legislature." It was posted on one of the paper's blogs by Tom Gordon yesterday evening.
The Alabama Legislature passed today a bill that would allow up to six immediate family members of a crime victim to witness the perpetrator's execution. The measure would extend the same right to six immediate family members of the prisoner who is being put to death. None of the witnesses can be younger than 19.
Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, the bill's Senate sponsor, said she expects Gov. Bob Riley will sign the legislation. Smith said Riley should sign the bill in time to allow Pat Jones of Abbeville and her five brothers to witness the execution next week of Willie McNair, who was sentenced to death for the 1990 robbery-murder of their mother.
And:
Under current law, only two immediate family members of a crime victim, and two immediate family members of a condemned inmate, can witness that inmate's death by lethal injection.
The legislation to increase the number of witnesses, sponsored by Rep. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, in the House and Smith in the Senate, originally would have allowed up to eight immediate family members of a crime victim and eight immediate family members of the condemned inmate to witness the execution.
Earlier coverage of the legislation is here.
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