Jan. 11
NORTH CAROLINA:
Prosecutors Dismiss Charges Vs. Protesters
Prosecutors have dismissed charges against 17 protesters who trespassed at
Central Prison in Raleigh on the eve of the nation's 1,000th execution
since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977.
The protesters ran for the front door of the prison about 11:30 p.m., 2
1/2 hours before Kenneth Lee Boyd was executed on Dec. 2. Boyd had been
sentenced to death for gunning down his estranged wife and father-in-law
in 1988.
About 150 people protested outside of the prison on the night of Boyd's
execution.
Members of the group who ran toward the prison door were charged with
trespassing and resisting arrest. Protesters are restricted to the
sidewalk in front of the prison.
Wake County Assistant District Attorney Howard Cummings said Wednesday
that officials dismissed the charges because prosecuting people with moral
objections to executions was a poor use of limited court resources.
(source: Associated Press)
