Impending Execution Of Kenny Richey

EDM number 1442 in 1997-98, proposed by Chris Mullin on 17/06/1998.

That this House notes with concern that the State of Ohio is preparing to execute Kenny Richey for the murder of a three year old girl killed in a fire at her mother's apartment; notes that two prominent forensic scientists are willing to testify that the fire was consistent with an accident; notes that, in the week before her death, the child had started three fires in her mother's apartment; further notes that a smoke detector that Mr Richey was alleged to have disabled is said by a witness to have been disabled by the girl's mother; believes that there are grounds for serious doubt about the safety of his conviction; notes, however, that America's higher courts have a long tradition of sending innocent men to their deaths; and calls on the Governor of Ohio to take the honourable course and commute Mr Richey's death sentence.

This motion has been signed by a total of 31 MPs.