NEWSPOEM 16 JANUARY 1996

SPRINGFIELD (AP) Governor Jim Edgar commuted the death sentence for Guinevere Garcia. She was convicted of shooting and killing her husband in 1991, shortly after being released from a ten-year term for killing her 11 month old daughter to prevent her rape. She was considered a poor choice for execution because of her history of being repeatedly sexually abused by male husbands, relatives, and prison guards.