Family of Utah murder victim wants 'an eye for an eye' as inmate's execution date looms

Family members of a woman slashed and stabbed to death in 1998 pressed Utah officials Tuesday to proceed with next month's scheduled execution of the convicted killer, presenting emotional testimony about a crime they say still traumatizes their close-knit Native American community.

Taberon Dave Honie is asking Utah’s parole board to commute his death sentence to life in prison as an act of mercy so he can remain in the lives of his daughter and granddaughter. He faces a planned lethal injection on Aug 8 for the killing of his girlfriend's mother after a day of heavy drinking and drug use.

A decision is expected in the coming days.

No inmate has been executed in Utah since Ronnie Lee Gardner was put to death by a firing squad in 2010. Honie is one of just seven inmates on death row in the state.

Relatives of the 49-year-old-victim, Claudia Benn, testifi...