The parents and three children of Louisiana murder victim Kim Groves have asked the federal government to forgo seeking the death penalty for co-defendants Paul Hardy and Len Davis. In a letter to prosecutors, the Groves family urged U.S attorneys to halt proceedings that might lead to death sentences in rehearings for both defendants.

“Executing these two men will not bring Kim Groves back to life. It will not ease the deep sorrow and loss that her family has and will continue to experience as a result of her death…Perversely, it appears that he (Davis) has enjoyed the attention and notoriety which his vulnerability to the death penalty has provided. The family believes the death penalty would in fact be the lesser of the punishments and that the finality and duration of a life sentence would be much more difficult and severe to Mr. Davis, in particular, than death,” the letter stated.

The letter, which was also addressed to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, was entered into the court record last week. The presiding judge ruled that if prosecutors have family members testifying about the facts of the crime, the letter may be used on Davis’ behalf.

(Times-Picayune, July 27, 2005). See Victims and Federal Death Penalty.