Ohio prosecutor: Give victims death sentence voice

COLUMBUS (AP) — A veteran Ohio prosecutor says family members of murder victims should be allowed to tell a jury weighing a death sentence how the crime affected them.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters says such victim-impact testimony is constitutional and would balance evidence the offender can present trying to prevent a death sentence.

Deters discussed his proposals at a meeting today of a committee charged with examining possible changes to Ohio’s death penalty law.

Deters also wants juries to be allowed to hear other evidence such as whether an offender could still be a danger in the future.

The committee of lawyers, lawmakers, judges and experts is spending the year looking at ways to improve Ohio’s capital-punishment law.