OLYMPIA…State Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, has introduced a bill that makes the murder of a child, age 14 or younger, a death penalty case. The measure, Senate Bill 6758, will likely be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Babies and young children are defenseless,” Benton said. “Anyone who intentionally murders a baby or child deserves to face the death penalty.”

Current law makes it a capital offense to murder under certain circumstances. The list includes killing a law enforcement officer in the line of duty and accepting money to kill someone.

“I’ve talked to Clark County Prosecutor Art Curtis about this issue,” Benton said. “We agree that when someone goes on trial for murdering an innocent child, we shouldn’t have to jump through any hoops to prove aggravated circumstances. Art has backed this issue before and I think we should keep fighting for it.”

Benton’s “Jessica’s Law” bill, Senate Bill 6389, makes sex predators who molest and murder their child victims eligible for the death penalty.

“We need to get tough on all child killers,” Benton said. “Protecting children is a key issue this session. I think we need to take one more step by making intentional murder of a child under any circumstance a capital offense.”

For more information contact Penny Drost
at (360) 786-7522
or penny.drost@leg.wa.gov