Given that the poor kid originally said it wasnt her stepfather, and repeatedly said that she was being pressured by the police to say that it was her stepfather, and there was no DNA evidence... considering all that I would have a real problem sentencing the man to death...

As I said, this isn't an issue where I feel the rapist deserves leniency or where I think there is a chance in hell that the person that committed the crime could ever be rehabilitated, but- based on the uncertainties in the article you quoted, and the other reports I have heard on this case- I wouldnt give the death penalty to the stepfather simply because there is room for legitimate doubt...

You cant impose the death penalty on people that are 'probably guilty', nor should you impose it on people that are 'almost certainly guilty'- A penalty that final requires a level of certainty of guilt that is rarely met.

People on death row have been exonnerated- that really is all the argument against the death penalty that needs to be made in my opinion.