Death Penalty (Incubator)

New Hampshire is one of the 35 states with capital punishment laws. Capital murder is the only crime in NH that is punishable by death. Lethal injection is the primary form of execution. The last execution in NH occurred in 1939.

A commission has been appointed to compare the cost to execute a criminal versus sentencing them to life in prison without parole.

It's been estimated that the state will spend nearly $3 million to prosecute, defend and sentence William Addison for the 2007 murder of a Manchester police officer. The taxpayer tab will grow by $400,000 per year while Addison appeals the conviction.

By comparison, the state spent $2.4 million to convict John Brooks for the 2005 murder of a Derry man. He was sentenced to life win prison without parole.

State Sen. Sheila Roberge (R-Bedford) has sponsored a bill (SB 472) that expands the death penalty to cover home invasions with intent to murder.

The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended more study of the bill. On March 10, the full Senate voted 14-10 to send the bill back for more study. This essentially kills the bill for the 2010 legislative session.

A similar bill was defeated in the House.