Jury Issues First Death Verdict Since Clemencies
From Staff and Wire Reports
A jury issued Illinois’ first death sentence since former Gov. George Ryan emptied death row with a blanket clemency last month.
The jury ruled Anthony Mertz should be executed for killing a 21-year-old Eastern Illinois University student after he broke into her off-campus apartment in June 2001.
New Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he will continue a moratorium on executions but plans no commutations.
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