'Megan's Law' killer now sentenced to life

TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The man whose crime inspired "Megan's Law" saw his death sentence commuted to life in prison without parole as part of New Jersey's new ban on executions.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law a bill that abolishes the death penalty. He signed the bill one day after he commuted the sentences of eight death-row inmates to live in prison without chance of parole, CNN reported.

Among the eight was Jesse Timmendequas, 46, sentenced to death in June 1997 for the rape and killing of 7-year-old Megan Kanka. The 1994 crime inspired "Megan's Law," which requires authorities to notify neighbors when a sex offender moves into an area. Timmendequas had twice been convicted of sex crimes on children before he killed Megan Kanka.