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RALEIGH (AP) - A U.S. Supreme Court ruling outlawing capital punishment “will clear out everyone on death row” at North Carolina’s Central Prison, the state attorney general’s office said today.North Carolina has 10 inmates under the death penalty, Central Prison Warden Stanley Blackledge said. Blackledge’s office said all had been sentenced for convictions stemming from murder or rape.One inmate, John Lee Edwards, also faced a death penalty for first-degree burglary. North Carolina’s state law made first-degree burglary, arson, rape and first-degree murder subject to capital punishment.The prisoners were told of the court’s decision within an hour after it was released in Washington.Deputy Warden Sam Garrison said there was no outcry from the prisoners, but “they were very happy, and relieved,to hear the news.”Gov. Bob Scott’s office said he would have no immediate comment.Asst. Atty. Gen. Jack Safron. the capital punishment specialist for the state Department cf Justice, said the court’s rulingcame as a surprise.“I'm shocked. I was sure that it was going the other way,” hesaid.Safron said the decision “will clear out everyone on death row and avparently requires resentencing.“The North Carolina Supreme Court has held recentlythat if the death penalty is invalid, and that’a the only defeat, the man can be resentenced without retrial,” Safron said.Five death sentences from North Carolina were set aside by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. In that case all were resentenced to prison terms.“It looks like we’re finished with capital punishment.” Safron said.North Carolina last executed a prisoner, Theodore Boykin, on Oct. 27, 1961. Boykin, a Negro, was executed for the rape-murder of a Duplin County white woman.The inmates currently onmDeath Row are:Ray Hamby, admitted 1969 from Lincoln County, first degree murder.Craig Barry Chandler, admitted 1969 from Lincoln County, first degree murder.Roger Vernon Miller, admitted 1969, from Duplin County, first degree murder.Owen Swanson Doss, admitted 1970 from Pitt County, first degree murder.James N. Westbrook, admitted 1970 from Mecklenburg County, first degree murder.Johnny Frazier, admitted 1971 from Mecklenburg County, first degree murder.Danny Chance, admitted 1971, from Cumberland County, rapeJames Waddell, admitted1971 from Sampson County, rape.John Lee Edwards, admitted 1971 from Orange County, firstdegree burglary and first degree murder.Connell Carroll, admitted 1972 from Johnston County, fir.st degree murder.
Newspaper Details
High Point Enterprise
High Point, North Carolina, US
Thu, Jun 29, 1972
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WA, USA 19 Apr 2021
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