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

COURT DISMISSES DONALD MOELLER’S CHALLENGE TO EXECUTION

PIERRE SD-  Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Judge Lawrence L. Piersol dismissed a constitutional challenge to South Dakota’s method of execution brought by death row inmate Donald Moeller. 
 
Judge Piersol’s ruling follows a hearing on October 4, 2012, during which Moeller told the court “I want to pay what I owe.  I believe the death penalty is just in this case.”
 
Dismissal of the constitutional challenge does not change the state’s plans for Moeller’s execution, according to Attorney General Jackley.  “The state is committed to performing an execution according to constitutional standards,” Jackley said.  “We have safeguards in place to assure a humane and dignified execution process for every inmate on South Dakota’s death row.”
 
Jackley welcomed the confession Moeller gave during the hearing.  “For 22 years Donald Moeller has remained silent concerning his role in Becky’s death.  It is important to her family that Moeller has finally admitted his guilt."
 
Moeller agrees. “It’s time,” Moeller said at the hearing, “If the rape and murder of Rebecca O’Connell does not deserve the death penalty, then I guess nothing does.”
 
Donald 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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