March 20, 2009
Article from: The Australian
SANTA FE: Governor Bill Richardson yesterday signed legislation to repeal New Mexico’s death penalty, calling it the “most difficult decision in my political life”.
The legislation replaces death by lethal injection with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
New Mexico is only the second state to ban executions since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
By signing, New Mexico joins 14 other states that do not impose capital punishment.
