The Forensic Nurse

The US Supreme court has ruled today that child rapists cannot be put to death. In essense stating that capital punishment is reserved only for murders.

The case is based on Lousiana man Patrick Kennedy, who was sentanced to death for the rape of his 8 year old step-daughter.  The case drew national attention due to the unusual sentancing. Kennedy if put to death would have been the first time in 44 years for a criminal to be put to death in a case when the victim was not also killed.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion that “evolving standards of decency” in the United States forbid capital punishment for any crime other than murder. Execution of Patrick Kennedy, the justices ruled, would be unconstitutional.