Politics on the Hudson

Jeffrey Deskovic, who served 16 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, was among a coalition of activists on hand at the Capitol Monday to urge lawmakers to block a move to reinstate the death penalty, even for cop killers.

The Republican-led state Senate is scheduled to vote on such a bill sometime this week—maybe later today. A group that included the brother of the Unabomber, the son of a 9/11 victim, the mother of a murder victim and a Catholic bishop led a press conference against the bill.

Deskovic, as you recall, was a 16-year-old Peekskill High student when he was convicted for a 1989 rape and murder of a classmate. His DNA didn’t match that found on the victim, but he wasn’t released until 2006. Just last Wednesday, the real killer was sentenced for the crime.

Deskovic spent his time at the mic talking about the consequences of wrongful convictions and the lack of protections.

“What kind of message is it sending to say don’t care if innocent people are executed,’’ said the 34-year-old who now lives in Dobbs Ferry.