HARTFORD — The Connecticut Supreme Court has rejected a request by prosecutors to put on hold its landmark decision eliminating the state’s death penalty while justices consider another death penalty appeal.
The court turned down the request Friday, standing by its ruling in August that the death penalty violates the state constitution.
Justices decided 4-3 in August that the death penalty violates the state constitution. They ruled in the case of convicted killer Eduardo Santiago.
The court said a 2012 state law abolishing capital punishment for future crimes must be applied to the 11 men who still faced execution for killings before the law took effect.
State prosecutors had asked the Supreme Court to stay the Santiago ruling while the court considers another death penalty appeal by Russell Peeler Jr.
