A South Dakota legislative committee listened to two hours of often emotional testimony from people supporting and opposing the death penalty.

Senator Bernie Hunhoff of Yankton was one of the sponsors of the bill to repeal the death penalty…

 

Attorney General Marty Jackley says standards for imposing the death penalty are very high…

 

Senator Dan Lederman of Dakota Dunes says it is a matter of law and morals…

 

Lederman made the motion to send the bill to the forty first legislative day. The Senate State Affairs Committee supported that motion on a seven to two vote, effectively killing the bill.