Daughter of deputy sheriff slain by executed killer asks to end Virginia's death penalty

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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Daughter of deputy sheriff slain by executed killer asks to end Virginia's death penalty
BY FRANK GREEN Richmond Times-Dispatch 3 hrs ago

The daughter of Corporal Eric Sutphin, shot to death in 2006 by William C. Morva, urged lawmakers Thursday to end capital punishment in Virginia.

"It is time for the death penalty to be abolished in order to better care for the victim's family members, to better serve the public good and to protect human life," said Rachel Sutphin, now a student at the Columbia Theological Seminary.

Sutphin was 9 years old when her father was shot to death by Morva during a manhunt for Morva, who shot to death an unarmed hospital security guard while escaping custody. Morva was executed in 2017, the most recent person put to death in the state.

Sutphin spoke Thursday at an event arranged by Virginians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Michael Stone, the group's executive director, said there are several potential sponsors in both chambers for an abolition bill in the upcoming General Assembly session.

He said it is unlikely such a bill would pass in its first year but has high hopes for eventual passage. He also said, "I don't think abolition is going to happen unless it is bipartisan."

Stone said Sutphin is one of 13 surviving family members of murder victims that have endorsed a sign-on letter asking the General Assembly to end the death penalty.
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