New Push For 'Melissa's Bill' To Keep Career Convicts In Jail
BOSTON (CBS/AP) -- Massachusetts Republicans are renewing their call for a bill they say would guarantee long prison terms for dangerous repeat offenders.
The bill is named after Melissa Gosule, a 27-year-old teacher who was raped and stabbed in 1999 by Michael Gentile.
Melissa's father Les Gosule also called for the bill's passage. "If it gets done, somebody else is going to be protected. That's just too bad that it had to happen to an innocent police officer."
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WBZ-TV's Bernice Corpuz reports.
Gentile had been convicted of 27 crimes but had served just two years when he killed Gosule. He's now serving a life sentence.
Ipswich Rep. Brad Hill said the bill has languished for a decade.
He said the Dec. 26 killing of Woburn Police Officer John Maguire shows the need for tougher measures.
Police say Maguire was shot by Dominic Cinelli, a career criminal paroled in 2008 despite having been sentenced to three life terms. Cinelli was killed in the shootout with police investigation a robbery attempt.
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