FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :    Monday, September 10, 2012  
CONTACT:    Sara Rabern,  (605) 773-3215

Berget Supreme Court Argument Set for October 1, 2012

 
PIERRE, S.D  -   Attorney General Marty Jackley said today that the South Dakota Supreme Court has set oral argument in State v. Rodney Scott Berget for October 1, 2012, at the Jeschke Fine Arts Center, University of Sioux Falls. Berget pled guilty to the first degree murder of senior Correctional Officer Ron Johnson. After a sentencing trial, the court sentenced Berget to death by lethal injection. The issues to be determined in the appeal include whether the imposition of the death sentence was constitutional and whether the sentence was excessive to the penalty imposed in similar cases. An order for stay of execution was issued on August 30, 2012, pending the appeal.
On August 16, 2012, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously upheld the death sentence of Eric Robert. Robert is scheduled to be executed between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., during the week of Sunday, October 14, 2012, through Saturday, October 20, 2012. The United States Supreme Court affirmed Donald Eugene Moeller’s conviction on June 4, 2012. Moeller is scheduled to be executed between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., during the week of Sunday, October 28, 2012, through Saturday, November 3, 2012.

 
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