In the middle of the trial of Steven Hayes, whose lawyer admits he raped and murdered Jennifer Hawke-Petit in Cheshire three years during one of the most horrible crimes in Connecticut history, it’s tough to speak out against the death penalty.
But state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat, said he still thinks it’s a bad idea.
“The death penalty is the biggest joke that I ever heard,” Colapietro said. Voting against it, he said, “is just plain old common sense.”
He said that while he could “vote either way” on the death penalty in the abstract, he opposes it because he’s concerned the state might put an innocent person to death someday and because the existing system is merely a way to lawyers employed.
“The only people who are going to make money from it are the lawyers,” said Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who has represented the 31st District since 1992. He said as long as attorneys can file endless appeals, they’ll keep raking it in from death penalty cases.
Colapietro’s Republican challenger, Jason Welch of Bristol, said the state needs “a viable death penalty.”
He said the Petit case itself shows that society should have the death penalty as “the last resort” for especially heinous crimes.
Colapietro countered that because Welch is a lawyer – who handles claims related to construction cases – he would naturally want to keep the death penalty.
The death penalty, he said, “is job security for lawyers.”
Click here for the story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
41 comments:
“The only people who are going to make money from it are the lawyers,” said Colapietro
Didn't realize we are supposed to try and make money from this, where are the venture capitalists when you need them.
Just one more reason to get this guy out of office. The death penalty is the only way to handle people like the scum that murdered the Petitt family.
Wait till the mudslingers wake up! When they get to work they'll be on here with thier mudslinging. Nothing about the article though.
Time for a change. Colapietro is out of touch with the voters of Bristol.
What an ego! Tom, the death penalty isn't just about lawyers "raking it in." If you can't understand why child rapists and murders like the ones who devastated the Petit family, deserve the death penalty, then...nevermind.
I'll just vote for someone who does -- Jason Welch!
7:50 AM,
Wrong. Not a fool, not a lawyer, not even a Welch supporter, not until now that is.
Mr. Colapietro needs to go.
7:50 AM ?????? That doesn't even make sense.
A vote for Tom Colapietro is a vote for Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky.
Tom,
The more you open your mouth, the more you hang yourself.
Only a handful of lawyers do criminal defense. The vast majority of capitol felons are represented by public defenders, so money really isn't a factor. As we get closer and closer to the election, we can tell that Tom is getting more and more desperate. Say bye-bye to the Plainville vote, Tommy!
Time for you to start looking for a job-- like the rest of us.
It is not about the lawyers and making money. It is about the victims. I am glad to see that Mr. Colapietro is trying to be practical about this, but I would like to see it made "viable" like Mr. Welch states. Simply calling it a joke and voting against it, in my mind is poor leadership. If Mr. Colapietro can support the death penalty in abstract, but thinks its present form is a joke, then how about working to improve it to make it work?
Truth hurts eH?
7:50 Besides the legal suicide in the late ninetys when was the last time the death penalty was used in CT? I'll help you I think it was is the 60's That's the truth . Does it hurt ?
To 8:30 AM I'm not Tom but your right about the handful except you forgot to mention they are lawyers. That handful must make a lot of money. Some of it Taxpayers .
8:30 Well get off the web and work then .
8:09 Makes sense to all of us. Need a explanation?
8:01 I guess you can't read or as usual you only see what you want. So no sense trying to explain anything to you.
7:58 am And Jason, who is trying to get in touch with the voters of Bristol? I'll explain cause you don't understand how to read. He never was in touch with the voters of Bristol so how can you lose something you never had?
This clearly demonstrates that Tom Colapietro is a puppet. He thinks as he is told be it by the liberasl in Hartford or the union bosses.
I actually considered voting for him because I know him personally. But I muust say that it's time for him to go.
How many INNOCENT people do YOU want to put to death? Some innocent people DO end up in jail by some strange twist of fate. Think how YOUR family would be affected if it happened to YOU! And don’t say “Never happen to me” because NO ONE knows what destiny can befall you!
Lawyers! They make money off of peoples’ suffering.
Hah! Those murderers will sit in jail appeal, after appeal, after appeal, using up our money for their lawyers’ fees. If they get a life sentence they are there for good. And since when did YOU appoint yourself GOD to decide if someone should live or die???
So, are you saying the voters have been stupid for 16 years? Hummm....
9:46 If you knew him personally and would vote for Welch you weren't much of a friend anyway. Vote for somebody over a friend? I guess he hasn't lost much then. And quit the kidding I know who you are and you would'nt vote for him anyway !
September 30, 2010 10:58 AM:
Sorry, you're wrong (as I imagine you almost always are). He's a decent guy. He's just wrong for the Connecticut Legislature in
2010. We need a viable death penalty. We also need to bring spending under control. Tom Colapietro will do neither. Sorry Tom.
If you look at what he said he's right. When and how many have been put to death and who makes the money? And how much does it cost us taxpayers to keep these guys in prison? All the while somebody is getting rich?
11:08 And you big mouth do you support the same plan Jason does? Don't forget you can say what you want because you don't have the courage to say who you are. Gee if you can serve all our problems why don't you help us out and say what YOU want to cut?
To: 7:40, 7:54, 8:43, 8:46, 8:48, 9:09, 9:11....
AKA (Tom's lone supporter)
Shouldn't you be in school sweetheart? Why don't you leave the blogging to the grownups?
I can't believe Tom is going against the death penalty. Did he say a year ago the he'd "like to put a bullet in..." Hayes and Kamisar-whats-his-face?
This just sounds like he's adopted the Democrat platform completely. He can not act on his own.
12:18 Jasons republican supporter At least I went to school . You would,nt get away with your trash in school. Shouldn't you be in jail?
12:57 Sorry I read that and it was pretty clear to me. Makes sense more than I can say for you wise juvenile!
12:47 What do what's his face have to do with this issue? Are you tring to take advantage of a sad situation?
12:18 Jasons republican supporter At least I went to school . You would,nt get away with your trash in school. Shouldn't you be in jail?
I am horrified by Tom's attitude toward the death penalty and toward his constituents. And he sounds less and less intelligent every day. Way past time for him to go.
Only these dirtbags on here would use the Petit tragedy to discredit Tom. They are nothing but decieving low lives. Read the article dirt bags!
Dear Tom,
You are in office to represent your constituents. Your constituents are not with you on this one. So please take your delusions and opionins home and leave office to someone who truly does want to make our voice heard.
You are so out of here!
Colapietro defender (or is it Tom Colapietro himself):
The Petit family wants these criminals to be executed and you want to abolish the death penalty. You have some explaining to do. Shame on you!
Mr. Colapietro, that you would so shamefully use the word " joke " about the seriousness of the death penalty shows just how infintile ( that means acting like a baby ) you are in sending out a release like you did in this paper. Class and dignity are two character flaws that you seem to have, and are not someone I want representing our great city at the state capitol ! I just hope no other government officials feel that all people from Bristol are like you ! I support Jason Welch with pride, in knowing that he will restore honor back in our state government !
I just now realized who Phil D'Amato is and he's the one who should be ashamed. Can't he read? I guess he's the real "Joke" here.
Thank you Mr. D'Amato, for saying so clearly what many of us are thinking.
Come on Babies lets do the twist !
Lets try the truth ! Jason Welch is not a construction Lawyer as he says. He works for one of the largest insurance companies as claims manager . He has no cases especially in CT, If so where are they?
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