Kansas judge to allow death penalty in Ottawa quadruple homicide case

A judge has ruled that prosecutors may seek the death penalty against a man accused in the 2013 deaths of four people at a Kansas farm, including an 18-month-old girl.

Franklin County District Judge Eric Godderz ruled during a hearing Friday the death penalty will be allowed in the case against 29-year-old Kyle Flack of Ottawa. He is charged with murder and rape after two men, a woman and her daughter were found dead near Ottawa. Flack has pleaded not guilty.

Flack’s attorney argued the death penalty should be banned because of “evolving standards of decency,” noting that 120 countries have rejected the punishment.

Godderz said his court is bound to follow precedent in Kansas and the U.S., which allow the death penalty.

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Kansas judge to allow death penalty in Ottawa quadruple homicide case."