a public defender

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The hearing into the Constitutionality of Connecticut’s death penalty wrapped up yesterday with oral arguments made by both sides.

Public Defender Ronald Gold argued that Campbell’s defense has proved that 12 of Connecticut’s 13 state’s attorneys do not follow a uniform standard or written guidelines when determining whether to pursue the death penalty.

Gold based his conclusion on the testimony of the state’s attorneys for the Waterbury and New Haven judicial districts. Given the same set of facts in double-murder cases, Gold argued, the two prosecutors reached different decisions on seeking the death penalty.

Waterbury State’s Attorney John A. Connelly testified that he has charged the accused with capital felony, felony murder and murder - the precursors to seeking the death penalty. Connelly said he had no discretion to do otherwise, according to Gold’s recollection of Connelly’s testimony.

But New Haven State’s Attorney Michael Dearington, Gold said, testified that when he has faced similar circumstances, he has charged a defendant with two murders rather than capital felony, felony murder and murder, Gold said.

The Court (Mullarkey, J.) is expected to rule on this and then sentence Jesse Campbell on August 17.

All previous coverage of this can be found here:

•  Death penalty hearing concludes
• Two more prosecutors testify
• DP Constitutionality hearings continue
• Prosecutorial discretion and the dp
• DP Constitutionality hearing under way