AP reports that the scheduled execution of Michael Richard is, at least, delayed. The question at this hour is whether or not it will be stayed due to the U.S. Supreme Court's acceptance today of a challenge to execution by lethal injection through the Kentucky case of Baze v.Rees.
AP's Mike Graczyk has, "Harris County killer's execution delayed," via the Houston Chronicle website.
Lawyers for Richard went to the U.S. Supreme Court asking the lethal injection be halted because of claims Richard was mentally retarded but justices rejected the appeal late Tuesday afternoon. Attorneys then filed late motions in state courts to try to stop the punishment and the execution was delayed beyond the 6 p.m. CDT time it could take place. The death warrant remained in effect until midnight.
The legal wrangling came following a Supreme Court decision earlier Tuesday to consider the constitutionality of lethal injection in a Kentucky case. Gov. Rick Perry's office, however, said Richard's execution should go forward as planned.
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