Death Penalty for Crimes by Youths Is Halted

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 1, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution forbids the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes.

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Such executions violate the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment, the court said today.

The 5-4 decision throws out the death sentences of about 70 juvenile murderers and bars states from seeking to execute minors for future crimes, according to the Associated Press.

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