I am deeply disappointed in the Monitor’s reporting on the hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on House Bill 455 to repeal New Hampshire’s death penalty on Wednesday. Your coverage was woefully incomplete and one-sided.
The hearing lasted three hours. Thirty-two witnesses testified, and only five of those witnesses testified in favor of retaining the death penalty.
You reported at great length about the desire for one murder victim’s family member to keep the death penalty. But you completely ignored the fact that at least 10 other family members also testified – every single one in opposition to the penalty.
In addition to those family members, the committee heard testimony from former attorneys general, judges, police officers, a person who was wrongfully convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death, and prominent religious leaders, all of them urging the Legislature to repeal the death penalty and providing compelling reasons to do so. Your reporting didn’t devote even one sentence to them.
Your reporting was a disgrace and a real disservice to your readers. If you are not going to provide a full picture, at least don’t provide a misleading one.
BARBARA KESHEN
Concord