Missouri governor says still weighing clemency for 14 women

Donna Biernacki is pictured with her four daughters. She has been in prison since 2004 for the murder of her husband. The Coalition says portions of the jury instructions regarding battered spouse syndrome were not introduced at her trial, leaving the jury unaware it could use evidence of abuse to find her not guilty. (photo courtesy; Missourinet)

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – Governor Jay Nixon was asked in October to consider clemency for 14 women in Missouri’s prisons. A group called the Community Coalition for Clemency says many of those women were victims of domestic violence that contributed to their crimes.

Nixon said those requests are being considered.

“Each one of the 14 cases is different, but the public can rest well assured that we’re looking to make sure that the punishments that are meted out are appropriate and fair for the crimes that were committed,” Nixon told Missourinet.

Nixon has said that with the legislative session over, more time can be spent reviewing clemency requests.

“I think that the team that’s working on this sort of stuff will probably want to look at all 14 of those before they make any recommendations,” said Nixon.

Amy Lorenz-Moser represents some of those 14 women.

“We understand that theses clemencies take time to consider carefully,” Lorenz-Moser told Missourinet. “We hope the governor’s giving all 14 women serious consideration and that a clemency in each case is granted, which is the right choice.”

Some of those women are said to have received sentences far more harsh than those given to men convicted of the same crimes.
Nixon could not offer a specific time for releasing a decision.