Patrick O. Kennedy
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Patrick O. Kennedy is one of two people currently on death row in the United States for a crime other than murder, the other being Richard L. Davis.[1]
Kennedy was convicted in 2003 for the aggravated rape on March 2, 1998 of his then eight-year-old stepdaughter, then sentenced under a 1995 Louisiana law that allows the death penalty for the rape of a child under the age of 12.[2] Kennedy's lawyers challenged the constitutionality of executing a person solely for child rape before the Louisiana Supreme Court which rejected the challenge on the grounds that the death penalty was not too harsh for such a heinous offense.[3] [4]
His lawyers then challenged the constitutionality of executing a person solely for child rape in federal court eventually making it to the Supreme Court which agreed to hear his case in January 2008.[5] The Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Kennedy v. Louisiana (No. 07-343[6]) in April 2008.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Loresha Wilson (2007). Death for rapist: Jury says man should die for assaulting 5-year-old. Shreveport Times, Shreveport, LA. Retrieved on January 4, 2008.
- ^ Louisiana Revised Statutes ยงยง 14:42(A)(4), (D)(2)(a).
- ^ Susan Finch (2007). Death penalty in rape case upheld. Times-Picayune, New Orleans. Retrieved on November 10, 2007.
- ^ The full text of the opinion from the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- ^ a b David G. Savage (2008). Justices to rule on child rapist's death sentence. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.
- ^ Supreme Court of the United States. Docket No. 07-343
