By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A State House committee conducted a hearing today on a bill that would place a 2-year moratorium on executions in Missouri.
Dennis Fritz of Kansas City was convicted of murder in Oklahoma in the early 1980's.
Though not sentenced to death, his friend and alleged partner in crime, Ron Williamson, was. Both were later exonerated through DNA evidence.
Their plight was later chronicled in author John Grisham's non-fiction book "The Innocent Man."
Fritz testified today before the House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety.
"There are many, many, many other people out there; it's my opinion, on Death Row, that are truly innocent of the crime that they're doing time for," Fritz said.
But State Representative Scott Lipke (R, Jackson) has strong doubts about the bill.
"There's a lot of things already built into the system...12 people have to find you, 1: Guilty, then 2: on a penalty phase, all 12 of them have to agree to put you to death...it is a tremendous hurdle to overcome for a prosecutor, whether people want to believe that or not," Lipke said.
Lipke believes death penalty opponents would use a 2-year moratorium as a stepping stone to permanently ban executions in Missouri.
The bill is sponsored by State Representative Bill Deeken (R, Jefferson City). It would also commission a study on the death penalty's use in Missouri.
A committee vote on the bill has not been scheduled.