Quinn: Death penalty moratorium should remain

By The Associated Press

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CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn says the state's moratorium on capital punishment should continue even as DuPage County prosecutors seek the death penalty in a high-profile case.

Quinn told reporters Thursday the moratorium should stay in place while death penalty reforms are carried out.

Talk about the death penalty has heated up in recent days when convicted murderer Brian Dugan pleaded guilty in a case were two other men had gone on trial and were sentenced to death before being cleared.

Prosecutors want the death penalty for Dugan, who pleaded guilty to the 1983 slaying of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico.

Quinn said he doesn't oppose the death penalty but he says there needs to be "zero tolerance" for mistakes in capital punishment cases.