Brussels, 09/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on the competent authorities and the governor of the State of South Dakota (USA) “to keep the de facto moratorium in place [on the death penalty] and to grant clemency” to the two inmates whose executions are due to be carried out at the end of October.
The executions of Eric Robert and Donald Moeller are planned for 14 and 28 October, although South Dakota has not carried out any executions since 2007. Saying that she “recognises the serious nature of the crimes involved”, Ashton added that she does not believe the death of the two inmates will mitigate the loss that the surviving family and friends of the victims are suffering.
Robert was sentenced for murdering a prison guard during an attempted escape, while Moeller was sentenced for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old child. Only the governor has the power to grant clemency to a person sentenced to death in the State of South Dakota. (CG/transl.fl)