Curry seeks death penalty against Hardy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Marion County prosecutor Terry Curry is seeking the death penalty for Thomas Hardy, the man accused of shooting and killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer David Moore.

Curry made the announcement during a news conference Friday afternoon with Moore’s parents at his side.

“This is more than a crime against our police officer, it is a crime against our community,” Curry said, “Anything less than the maximum possible punishment minimizes the sacrifice of Officer Moore.”

The Moore family said they fully support the prosecutor’s decisions.

“I’m prepared to do anything for my son and to see that justice is served,” said Spencer Moore, Officer David Moore’s father.

In the press conference, Curry outlined three alleged aggravating circumstances existing at the time of Hardy’s offense. Curry said these circumstances justify death penalty consideration:

• That Thomas Hardy did kill David Moore, a law enforcement officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, while David Moore was acting in the course of duty.
• That Thomas Hardy did kill David Moore, a law enforcement officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and, further, the murder was motivated by an act Officer David Moore performed while acting in the course of duty, to-wit: the murder was motivated by the fact that Officer David Moore conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Thomas Hardy.
• Thomas Hardy did murder David Moore and at the time of committing said crime of Murder, Thomas Hardy was on parole having been released from the Indiana Department of Correction on or about Oct. 27, 2009.

Curry announced he would form a committee to examine the issue back in January and that the process was expected to take several weeks. He said several factors were measured in making the decision, including Hardy’s age, the Moore family’s input, and the resources and costs of pursuing a death penalty case.

“The cost of protecting our public servants is without measure. I don’t want someone in this community thinking just because they have age, benefits or whatever, that they can – with impunity – threaten or cause harm to our public servants,” said Spencer Moore.

The prosecution filed a request for the death penalty Friday. The initial hearing informing Hardy of the request will occur in about a week.