Thursday, January 28, 2010
Measure would oppose Soering transfer to Germany
Sen. Steve Newman is pushing to block the transfer of convicted killer Jens Soering.
General Assembly 2011
Among the major issues: The state's continuing efforts to provide services with fewer dollars and Gov. McDonnell's plan to privatize liquor stores. Session ends Feb. 26.
The latest
Follow the Blue Ridge Caucus blog and @BlueRidgeCaucus on Twitter.
- Va. Senate votes to restrict local government land grabs
- House advances “personhood” and abortion ultrasound bills
From today's paper
- 'Personhood' bill set for vote today
- Eminent domain bill passes in Virginia Senate
- General Assembly Notebook: House advances capital punishment bill
- Follow state and local political coverage from The Roanoke Times
Watch live video
Who's your legislator?
More resources
RICHMOND -- The Virginia Senate could soon join Gov. Bob McDonnell in formally opposing the transfer of convicted double-murderer Jens Soering to a prison in his native Germany.
Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, introduced a resolution Wednesday supporting McDonnell's revocation of Virginia's consent to the transfer. Soering, the son of a German diplomat, is serving two life sentences for the 1985 stabbing deaths of his girlfriend's parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom, in their Bedford County home.
Newman also has drafted a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to deny the transfer, which former Gov. Tim Kaine authorized earlier this month in the waning days of his administration. Members of the House of Delegates have signed a similar letter to Holder.
"We've had pretty good support on this," said Newman, whose district includes Bedford County.
Kaine authorized Soering's transfer in a letter sent to the Justice Department on Jan. 12, four days before he left office. Under terms of an agreement with the German government and judiciary, Soering would remain imprisoned in Germany for at least two years before becoming eligible for a suspension of his sentence. He could not attempt to return to the United States after his transfer.
McDonnell notified the Justice Department last week that he had revoked Virginia's consent for Soering's transfer, but it is unclear how federal authorities will handle the matter. The Justice Department has refused to discuss Soering's proposed transfer.
Newman's resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 149, declares support for McDonnell's revocation and states that "it is in the interests of justice and in fairness to Derek and Nancy Haysom that Jens Soering serve out his punishment in the Commonwealth."
In his letter to Holder, Newman said the possibility of transferring Soering "has opened up past wounds for those who lived through this tragedy," including the victims' families.
Newman enclosed letters from the victims' families in his correspondence to Holder.
"What makes this turn of events even more troublesome is the fact that the [Kaine] administration did not consult with those involved in the original case, including the investigators or the victims' family before making the decision," Newman wrote. "Only after the decision had been made was the family informed."
U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, also has written to Holder to oppose Soering's transfer
Kaine has said little about the matter since leaving office.
