Pending execution would be first in South Dakota in 60 years

Published: 2007-07-06

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (CNS) -- South Dakota's two Catholic bishops called a pending execution in their state, the first in almost 60 years, "an act of violence in which we, through our representative form of government, participate." Bishops Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City and Paul J. Swain of Sioux Falls said in a statement that the execution of Elijah Page set for the week of July 9 "forces us to confront serious questions about the kind of state we want to be." The statement, dated June 30 and issued to the media July 3, stopped short of asking Gov. Mike Rounds to commute the death sentence for the 25-year-old, who pleaded guilty to helping brutally beat, torture and murder 19-year-old Chester Poage in 2000 along with two other men. Briley Piper, 25, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death. Darrell Hoadley, 26, was convicted at a trial and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

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