Batt Keeping Quiet About Paradis

As defense attorneys put together their petition for a clemency hearing, Gov. Phil Batt declined on Tuesday to give any hint of his feelings about condemned murderer Donald Manuel Paradis’ claims that new evidence proves his innocence.

“Obviously, Mr. Paradis and the others involved were in a bad circumstances. They’re part of a gang, and they were not very nice people,” Batt said on a radio call-in program. “But that’s neither here nor there. They’re entitled to the same considerations as anyone else.”

“If I’m presented the evidence in this matter by the attorneys, the defense attorneys, I will carefully review that,” Batt told listeners to KIDO radio in Boise.

“I will make what decisions are required of me under the law. I don’t want to prejudge those at this time.”

Paradis, 46, a former motorcycle gang member condemned for the 1980 strangulation of 19-year-old Kimberly Ann Palmer of Spokane, was again rebuffed on Monday by U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge, who rejected claims that new evidence justified voiding his conviction and execution.