Pro-Con Formative Assessment

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SUMMARY:
The defense in the Cheshire triple-murder case challenged Connecticut's death penalty law. Steven J. Hayes is facing the capital charges in the attack and murder of the Petit family of Cheshire, Connecticut, which occurred three years ago. His lawyers argued that the death penalty is not in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. Last year, the defense said a legislative vote to repeal it in Connecticut showed that capital punishment is now labeled as cruel and unusual. However, the repeal was vetoed by the Governor of Connecticut, M. Jodi Rell.

Also, Steven Hayes' lawyers pointed out that the death penalty goes against the legislature's understanding of moral values. They claimed that the judge, Jon C. Blue, should "take a fresh look". But Judge Blue made it clear that he wasn't going to go easy on them by vetoing the capital punishment.

PROPOSITION:
The accused murderer and attacker should be free from the death penalty and should just be sentenced to life in prison without bail or parole.