HELENA – A representative of the Canadian government has told the Montana governor that a citizen on the state’s death row deserves clemency.
Canadian Consul General Dale Eisler delivered the message Thursday to Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.
Ronald Smith killed two men in 1982. He has not asked for clemency.
The Canadian government had previously decided to stop seeking clemency for Smith. But a Canadian court later ordered the government to reverse that decision.
Eisler told Schweitzer that the official position of the government is to ask for clemency should the case reach the governor’s desk.
The governor, an advocate of the death penalty, has told family of the victims he will think of them first before making any decision.