Governor of the American state of New Mexico Bill Richardson, left, and Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan stand in front of the lit Rome's Colosseum, Wednesday, April 15, 2009, on the occasion of a ceremony to mark the decision to end the death penalty in New Mexico. Richardson, a Democrat, signed a bill last month abolishing the death penalty for crimes committed after July 1, replacing it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. AP Photo logo AP Photo 34 months ago

Governor of the American state of New Mexico Bill Richardson, left, and Santa Fe Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan stand in front of the lit Rome's Colosseum, Wednesday, April 15, 2009, on the occasion of a ceremony to mark the decision to end the death penalty in New Mexico. Richardson, a Democrat, signed a bill last month abolishing the death penalty for crimes committed after July 1, replacing it with life in prison without the possibility of parole.