Tomorrow, Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, the Missouri Catholic Conference, the ACLU of Missouri, the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, Our Lives Matter, Empower Missouri, Missouri Faith Voices, individuals from across Missouri, and Missouri State Representatives and Senators will join in rallying and lobbying our state legislators to repeal the death penalty in Missouri and stop the scheduled execution of #CarmanDeck!
The #DeathPenalty has long plagued the #Missouri criminal legal system. It is past time to #AbolishTheDeathPenalty and #StopExecutions.
James and Zelma Long tragically lost their lives in 1997. In 2008, after two trials were overturned, Missouri succeeded in obtaining a death sentence for Carman Deck. The significant delay between Missouri’s first and third trials seriously impaired Carman’s ability to present mitigating evidence to the third and final jury. In 2017 a district court called Missouri’s third penalty phase trial “fundamentally unfair,” noting Carman was unable to fully present evidence and advocate for his life due to delays caused by the state of Missouri. Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP) will bring volunteers to the state capitol on Tuesday. Leaders of several organizations will deliver petitions to Governor Parson, asking him to stop the execution of Carman Deck.
Nimrod Chapel, Jr. of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP stated, “State-sanctioned murder highlights inhumanity. War rages and Missourians kill each other. Murder is murder; the only question is who is allowed to do it. Executions as punishment for murder make killing an accepted part of life.”
Last week counsel for Mr. Deck sent a petition for clemency to Governor Parson and the parole board asking for a commutation of the capital sentence to life without parole. The petition describes, “Mr. Deck’s life history is replete with circumstances that render a sentence of life without the possibility of parole a more merciful and just punishment than a sentence of death.”
At the time the warrant of execution was issued, Carman lived in the “honor dorm” at Potosi. During the 25 years since the offense, he has learned to function in prison peacefully.
We look forward to educating and empowering our state leaders in stopping needless cycles of violence like the death penalty, and instead creating effective responses to violent crime in our state.
Photo Below: Left, Carman Deck pictured at Potosi Correctional Center, photo by Attorney Jeremy Weis. Right, Carman Deck childhood school photo.
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