|
Kevorkian's plea denied
23/12/2005 12:03 - (SA)
Lansing - The Michigan state parole board has rejected a request to pardon assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian or commute his sentence, despite warnings that he is in grave condition.
The 77-year-old former United States doctor is serving 10 to 25 years for murder.
He was convicted of giving a fatal injection of drugs to a man with Lou Gehrig's disease in 1998.
Kevorkian is not eligible for parole until 2007.
Last month, Kevorkian's lawyer, Mayer Morganroth, warned Kevorkian was in "dire shape" and might not live that long.
Morganroth said Kevorkian suffers from high blood pressure, arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis and Hepatitis C.
In a 7-2 vote on Thursday, the parole board recommended the Michigan governor, Jennifer Granholm, deny the application.
Spokesperson for Granholm, Liz Boyd, said Granholm will follow the recommendation, as she has done with similar recommendations on Kevorkian in 2003 and 2004.
Morganrath said: "I think the parole board is acting irresponsibly and outrageously.
"The doctor in the prison keeps telling us, 'What can I do to get him out? He shouldn't be in here'."
|
