Post by thinkinkmesa on Jul 22, 2011 10:26:16 GMT -5
Second killer's execution delayed
Ohio's second consecutive execution has been halted because of legal concerns about flaws in the state's lethal-injection protocol.
Gov. John Kasich yesterday postponed the execution of convicted killer Brett Xavier Hartmann, 37, of Summit County, which had been scheduled for Aug. 16. Kasich cited a federal judge's ruling in another case that called the state's procedures "haphazard."
Kasich moved Hartmann's execution to Nov. 13, 2012. The reason for the long delay: Executions already are scheduled each month, except December, through October 2012.
In a statement, Kasich's office said the move "will give the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction the needed time to implement changes to the execution protocol that were mandated by the judge's ruling."
Hartmann was scheduled to be executed for killing his friend, Winda Snipes, 46, of Akron, on Sept. 9, 1997. Hartmann stabbed Snipes 138 times, slit her throat and cut off both her hands, which were never found, according to court records.
But he will be spared, at least for 15 months, because of U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost's decision in an unrelated case.
On July 8, Frost indefinitely stayed the scheduled July 19 execution of Kenneth Wayne Smith, 45, of Hamilton, Ohio. Frost concluded that the state failed to follow its own execution procedures and protocol. Smith was sentenced to die for his role in the 1995 slayings of Lewis and Ruth Ray in their home.
Attorney General Mike DeWine decided not to appeal Frost's order even though he said he "respectfully disagrees" with the judge. DeWine said the state "is going to take that decision and follow it and make revisions and comply with it." At that point, a motion will be submitted to Frost, he said.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the execution procedure issue should be resolved in the coming months and is not expected to force postponement of more executions, beginning with Billy Slagle of Cuyahoga County on Sept. 20.
www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/07/22/second-killers-execution-delayed.html?sid=101
Ohio's second consecutive execution has been halted because of legal concerns about flaws in the state's lethal-injection protocol.
Gov. John Kasich yesterday postponed the execution of convicted killer Brett Xavier Hartmann, 37, of Summit County, which had been scheduled for Aug. 16. Kasich cited a federal judge's ruling in another case that called the state's procedures "haphazard."
Kasich moved Hartmann's execution to Nov. 13, 2012. The reason for the long delay: Executions already are scheduled each month, except December, through October 2012.
In a statement, Kasich's office said the move "will give the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction the needed time to implement changes to the execution protocol that were mandated by the judge's ruling."
Hartmann was scheduled to be executed for killing his friend, Winda Snipes, 46, of Akron, on Sept. 9, 1997. Hartmann stabbed Snipes 138 times, slit her throat and cut off both her hands, which were never found, according to court records.
But he will be spared, at least for 15 months, because of U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost's decision in an unrelated case.
On July 8, Frost indefinitely stayed the scheduled July 19 execution of Kenneth Wayne Smith, 45, of Hamilton, Ohio. Frost concluded that the state failed to follow its own execution procedures and protocol. Smith was sentenced to die for his role in the 1995 slayings of Lewis and Ruth Ray in their home.
Attorney General Mike DeWine decided not to appeal Frost's order even though he said he "respectfully disagrees" with the judge. DeWine said the state "is going to take that decision and follow it and make revisions and comply with it." At that point, a motion will be submitted to Frost, he said.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the execution procedure issue should be resolved in the coming months and is not expected to force postponement of more executions, beginning with Billy Slagle of Cuyahoga County on Sept. 20.
www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/07/22/second-killers-execution-delayed.html?sid=101