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New Hampshire Supreme Court to Hear Death Row Inmate’s Appeal for Life Sentence
The New Hampshire Supreme Court will reconsider Michael Addison's death sentence after the state abolished capital punishment in 2019 by a 279-88 House vote, his attorneys said.
- On Monday, September 15, 2025, New Hampshire's highest court decided to review an appeal from Michael Addison, the state's sole death row prisoner, who is requesting his sentence be changed to life imprisonment instead of execution.
- In 2006, Addison shot and killed Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs during a domestic disturbance call, leading to his 2008 conviction and death sentence; however, New Hampshire eliminated capital punishment in 2019, raising legal questions about his sentence.
- Addison's attorneys contend that the repeal indicates the state no longer supports the death penalty and are requesting that his sentence be reduced, even though the change in law was not intended to affect his case retroactively.
- Former Governor and lead prosecutor Kelly Ayotte characterized Addison as a "cold-blooded, cold-hearted, remorseless killer" and stated that reducing his sentence would deeply wrong the family of Officer Briggs and undermine law enforcement.
- The court’s decision to review Addison’s appeal is unexpected and raises complex issues about executing the only person eligible for death in a state that abolished capital punishment six years ago.
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New Hampshire Supreme Court to hear death row inmate’s appeal for life sentence
New Hampshire’s only inmate on death row has been granted a rare opportunity to plead his case for a life sentence before the state’s highest court. In a brief single-page order handed down Monday, New Hampshire’s Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of Michael Addison, 45, who killed Manchester Officer Michael Briggs in 2006. The decision is a surprising development in a case where the court had repeatedly denied reconsidering Addison’s deat…
·Washington, United States
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Only man on death row in New England granted another chance to plead case before N.H. Supreme Court - The Boston Globe
Michael K. Addison, who was sentenced to death for fatally shooting Officer Michael L. Briggs in Manchester, N.H., claims his execution would be unjust, since New Hampshire eliminated capital punishment.
·Boston, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 44%
C 50%
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