USA - Montana. Committee voted against HB 350 abolishing capital punishment.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-8 against House Bill 350 abolishing capital punishment. All Republicans on the panel voted to table the measure; all 8 Democrats voted to keep it alive. Members also rejected, 15-4, a bill to require indisputable DNA or video proof of a person's guilt in a capital crime before the defendant could be sentenced to death. Republican Rep. Alan Doane said he opposed the DNA bill because it required evidence to be presented at trial and would rule out the death penalty if a defendant confessed and pleaded guilty. Democratic Rep. Jasmine Krotkov said that while the DNA bill was imperfect she supported it because the death penalty isn't implemented fairly, is costly and does not deter homicide.