AUGUSTA (AP) – Representatives of human rights, civil libertarian and church groups were among those who lined up Wednesday in opposition to a bill before the Judiciary Committee to impose the death penalty in Maine.

Sen. Jonathan Courtney’s bill would impose the ultimate punishment for those who murder family or household members.

The Springvale Republican said domestic violence cases are particularly troubling. He cited a case in which a Pittston man allegedly killed his mother and estranged wife in front of his children last year. Jon Dilley faces trial for two counts of murder in those crimes.

Courtney also mentioned in his testimony a Portland case in which a man beat his longtime girlfriend to death. Gregory Erskine was found guilty by a jury in January of murdering Lisa Deprez just days after he was released from jail and ordered to stay away from her.

According to Courtney, 41 percent of the murders in Maine in 2003 – nearly double the rate of the previous year – resulted from domestic conflicts.

“Admittedly, this bill will not eliminate domestic violence,” said Courtney, but he said it is worthy of discussion if it can deter some domestic violence cases.

Several opponents said Maine should not re-institute a death penalty, which was repealed in 1887.

Robert Talbot of the Maine NAACP said scientific studies have failed to find evidence that the death penalty deters crime.

The director of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence commended Courtney for addressing the problem, but said that reintroducing the death penalty will probably not accomplish what it sets out to do.

“Most abusers who murder their partners are so obsessed with killing their victims that they are indifferent to the legal consequences,” said Kim Roberts.

The Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine Council of Churches and Amnesty International also opposed the measure.

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