What makes you think they could get the death penalty? In what jurisdiction, and consequent to what conviction? It doesn’t seem likely that they would be convicted of murder if they were doing what was at the time considered normal science, surely, and while I suppose they could get a manslaughter or equivalent conviction via negligence, that wouldn’t ever carry a sentence so severe.
If they continued to suppress information, this may contribute to additional deaths and they could know it. In that case they can get first degree murder.
If they confirm, they will get life in jail or even death penalty, so it may be not surprising that they will deny in any case.
What makes you think they could get the death penalty? In what jurisdiction, and consequent to what conviction? It doesn’t seem likely that they would be convicted of murder if they were doing what was at the time considered normal science, surely, and while I suppose they could get a manslaughter or equivalent conviction via negligence, that wouldn’t ever carry a sentence so severe.
If they continued to suppress information, this may contribute to additional deaths and they could know it. In that case they can get first degree murder.