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Nun discusses death-row visits

Author talks to students about capital punishment

Sister Helen Prejean, one of the nation’s most ardent advocates against the death penalty, held the rapt attention of Animas High School students Wednesday with an interactive presentation.

Prejean, in town to discuss her book, Dead Man Walking, the Common Reading Experience for incoming freshmen at Fort Lewis College, squeezed in an hour with AHS students in a seemingly perpetual-motion schedule.

Prejean, 75, walked students through what can go wrong with all the delivery systems used in capital punishment in the United States – hanging, firing squad, electric chair and lethal injection.

Students in Matt Dooley’s humanities class who are spending the week addressing issues on capital punishment were able to answer some of the questions Prejean posed.

Prejean, who has accompanied six inmates to their execution, then related her experience with Elmo Patrick Sonnier, the title character in Dead Man Walking.

She established a pen pal relationship with Sonnier, who with brother, Eddie, executed David LeBlanc, 16, and Loretta Bourque, 18, with three shots each in the back of the head. She ended up as his spiritual advisor.

Brother Eddie, who drew two life sentences, died in prison in January 2014.

Prjean recounted the apprehension that gripped her as she heard gates clang behind her on her first visit to Sonnier on death row.

But through the wire mesh screen in the holding pen where Sonnier sat, “his face was human,” Prejean said.

After writing the draft of Dead Man Walking, Prejean met the parents and family members of the young victims.

Prejean used numbers to make some points.

California has 744 people on death row.

On average, Texas has double the number of murders compared with states that don’t have the death penalty.

Prejean urged her listeners to sort out their feelings on capital punishment.

“I ask you,” Prejean said, “how are we going to respond to society’s need to make ourselves feel safe?”

daler@durangoherald.com



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