CMR

Washington- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty is not proper for child rape.

The case involved Patrick O. Kennedy, who raped his 8-year old stepdaughter in 1998.

The Supreme Court banned the death penalty for rape, stating that it was unconstitutional.

The vote to ban the death penalty for child rape was a  5-4 decision that ruled against executing the man.

Back in 1998, the crime was committed in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Louisiana is one of five states in the U.S. which considers the death penalty for a rape case.

Louisiana is one of 5 states in the U.S. where execution can come from child rape.  The Supreme Court overruled this though.

The last time a person was executed for a crime other than murder was in 1964.