District Attorneys and family members of those killed by inmates on death row seeking clemency. Louisiana District Attorneys Association September 20, 2023.
Family members of victims and District Attorneys across the state voiced their opposition to the upcoming death row inmate clemency hearings. Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association Loren Lampert said the governor and pardon board aren’t following the rules.
“Each individual case is entitled to its individual consideration and any attempt to force these 56 cases into a funnel designed to deal with individual cases with special circumstances is inappropriate,” said Lampert.
Evelyn Salone was shot by death row inmate Donald Leger who also killed her husband Troy in 2001.
Several DAs and Attorney General Jeff Landry have filed lawsuits to block Governor Edwards and the Pardon Board for not following the proper and necessary steps and conducting what Landry said were proceedings outside of the public eye. Edwards said the lawsuit has no merit.
“I’m optimistic ’cause he’s not going to find a judge who is as ignorant of the law as he is, and he’s going to find one who’s more politically motivated than he is either,” said Edwards.
Evelyn Salone was also shot when her husband Troy was killed by death row inmate Donald Leger almost 22 years ago in St. Mary Parish. Salone said Edwards is circumventing the rules and hurting everyone who lost loved ones at the hands of the death row inmates.
“The governor is stepping over things that are already in place, which should be criminal also. If I had my way and I could, I’d charge him for breaking the law for trying to break the law, that’s just me,” said Salone.
The first round of clemency hearings is scheduled for October.
Peggy Creech says Sedwric Clark should remain on death row for the murder of her mother 58-year-old Bertha Anderson and his 8-year-old daughter Mariah Barnes.
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