Church Members Say Priest's Alleged Murderer Should Be Spared Death

Members of a Florida church are asking prosecutors to spare the life of a man who is accused of killing their beloved priest.

Members of the Diocese of St. Augustine say the victim, Father Rene Robert, signed a "Declaration of Life," a personal statement of opposition to the death penalty, before he was fatally shot last spring, according to ABC affiliate WTLV. The Associated Press reported that he signed the "Declaration of Life" in 1995.

Steven Murray, the 28-year-old murder suspect, allegedly shot Robert to death in April and then led police to his body in a wooded area in Georgia, according to WTLV.

Murray entered a not guilty plea in September, according to Radeta Smith, Clerk of Superior Court in Burke County, Georgia.

Augusta-Richmond County District Attorney Ashley Wright has filed notice that she plans to seek the death penalty, but members of the diocese are traveling to Georgia today with the hopes of changing her mind.

The church members said the declaration, which they say was written and signed by Robert himself, should be honored.

"There is no need to kill the person even if he deserved that, there is no need," Bishop Felipe Estevez told WTLV.

Murray's last court appearance was this month for a Unified Appeal Procedure, which relates to death penalty cases, according to the Clerk of Superior Court in Burke County. No future hearing has been scheduled.

Murray's defense attorney, Ryan Swingle, told ABC News that he and his client respect the position the Diocese has taken and respect the work Father Robert did and his intentions and wishes. Swingle said he hopes all parties involved in the case give consideration to Father Robert's "Declaration of Life."