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Orie Pushes for New Law in Wake of Court Ruling
Providing Illegal Drugs That Result in Death of a Minor Would
Be Considered Murder.
HARRISBURG -- State Sen. Jane Orie (R-40) is urging passage of
her legislation that would allow the state to punish persons who provide
illegal drugs that result in the death of a minor.
The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that
Allegheny County prosecutors did not have enough evidence under current
state law to try an accused drug dealer for the overdose death of a
Sewickley teenager four years ago. The court ruled that current state
law required prosecutors to prove malice in the case of Gregory D. Ludwig,
who sold the Ecstasy tablets that killed 15-year-old Brandy French in May
2001.
Senator Orie’s legislation, Senate Bill 480,
would make such prosecutions possible.
“Although I have not had the opportunity to
review the Supreme Court’s decision, I introduced legislation in response to
this incident four years ago, when the children died as a result of an adult
selling them drugs,” said Orie, who reintroduced the measure in March 2005.
“Under my legislation, a person who provided the
drugs would be strictly liable for the death in such cases -- there would be
no need to prove malice or indifference to human life, as is currently
required by state law,” said Orie. “Simply providing the drugs that result
in death would be considered murder if the victim is a minor.”
The senator said she’s hoping to move the bill
out of the Senate Judiciary Committee when the Senate reconvenes in three
weeks.
“With this ruling by the Supreme Court, it is
clear that my proposal needs to be enacted now to ensure that those who
murder children by providing them with drugs are punished to the fullest
extent of the law,” said Orie.
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