Governor Jeff Landry says he will not stand in the way of Jessie Hoffman’s scheduled execution. Sean Richardson reports it will be Louisiana’s first execution of a death row inmate in 15 years…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
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Jessie Hoffman’s lawyers are continuing the fight up until the very end. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Louisiana is preparing to execute its first death row inmate in 15 years tonight as Jessie Hoffman is set to die for the 1996 kidnapping, raping and murder of Molly Elliot. It will be the state’s first nitrogen gas execution. Governor Jeff Landry appeared as a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster and said he will not stop the execution…
Cut 3 (12) “…quite some time.”
Hoffman is a practicing Buddhist and his lawyers say killing him with nitrogen gas would interfere with Buddhist breathing exercises, which would be a violation of religious freedoms. Hoffman says he would prefer a different form of execution, even firing squad. Landry says nitrogen gas is a more humane method of execution…
Hoffman kidnapped Elliot in downtown New Orleans the day before Thanksgiving in 1996. According to authorities, Hoffman robbed Elliot of 200-dollars, raped her in the backseat of her own car and fatally shot her execution style. Elliot’s body was dumped in a river in St. Tammany Parish. Landry says Hoffman’s death sentence is appropriate…
Cut 5 (05) “…shouldn’t tolerate it.”
Hoffman’s execution is set to take place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola between six PM and nine PM tonight.
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Jessie Hoffman’s loved ones are bracing for the moment that he’s executed. Hoffman’s brother, Marvin Fields, says his brother is very remorseful for what he did to Molly Elliott in 1996.
Fields says his brother deserves an opportunity to atone for what he did.
Cut 7 (08) “…people can change”
While Hoffman was only 18 when he killed Elliott, he did father a child beforehand. Jessie Smith is his son and says he didn’t get the opportunity to grow up with his father. Smith said he would be devastated if his father is put to death.
Cut 8 (04) “…start over again.”
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The state epidemiologist is urging you to make sure you’re vaccinated against whooping cough. Louisiana is seeing a large number of whooping cough cases – in fact, two infants have died in the last six months. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the symptoms start off so mild that one might not initially suspect anything serious.
Cut 9 (13) “…for whooping cough.”
Sokol says whooping cough is very serious and can be potentially deadly.
Cut 10 (07) “…these coughing fits.”
Sokol says while whooping cough can affect anyone, young kids, including infants, are at the biggest risk for severe symptoms.
Cut 11 (09) “…during each pregnancy.”
Sokol says the complications are the most severe among infants; in fact, 30-percent of infants who become infected with whooping cough end up having to go into the hospital, with one in 100 likely to die of the disease.
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Councilman Oliver Thomas has thrown his hat in the New Orleans Mayoral race. University of New Orleans Political Scientist Dr. Edward Chervenak says Thomas is the third announced candidate. New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno and Former Orleans Parish Judge Arthur Hunter are the other two. Chervenak says Thomas is well liked as he’s serving for a third time on the city council…
Thomas pleaded guilty in 2007 to accepting a bribe from a businessman while he was a city council member and served two years in a federal prison. Chervenak says Thomas has expressed remorse and taken responsibility for his actions.
Cut 13 (10) “…be as forgiving.”
Thomas represents District E, which is New Orleans East. Chervenak says Thomas will talk about the reduction of crime in New Orleans East and the transformation of the old Six Flags site.