During an emotional State House hearing yesterday, relatives of murder victims begged lawmakers to pass a bill that would force repeat violent offenders to not be let out early on parole.
“Please. I implore you. I beg that we have a bill enacted,” said Les Gosule, father of Melissa Gosule who was raped and killed in 1999 by a repeat offender.
Gosule sat next to Melissa’s mother and sister as he wiped away tears talking to members of the Judiciary Committee.
“How many more innocent lives have to be taken?” said her sister, Heidi.
The committee held a hearing yesterday on bills that would overhaul the state’s parole system.
Melissa’s Law would eliminate holes in the habitual offender law.
Some people testifying before the committee said if the decade-old proposal had not languished for years, it might have saved Woburn Police Officer John Maguire.
Maguire was shot dead by a man paroled while serving three life terms.
“We have to clean up this problem,” said Maguire’s brother, Chuck.
The patronage scandal in the Probation Department along with the dismantling of the Parole Board after Maguire’s death have helped the recent push for passage of Melissa’s Law.
