"Condemned killer to get info on execution methods," is the title of Pamela Manson's report in today's Salt Lake Tribune.
If a warrant of execution is issued next week as expected, condemned inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner will have the choice of dying by firing squad or by lethal injection. And to help him decide, the Utah Department of Corrections has agreed to release general information about the execution methods to Gardner's lawyers.
At a hearing Monday, DOC attorney Sharel Reber told 3rd District Judge Robin Reese that the relevant documents will detail the training and expertise of the execution team. The identity of the team members and other information affecting security will not be included, Reber said.
In addition, Gardner's lawyer, Andrew Parnes, has agreed to relay the information to Gardner, but will not show the documents to him or other inmates.
The documents are expected to be given to Parnes by Tuesday.
And:
A hearing is scheduled for April 12, when the Utah Attorney General's Office will ask 3rd District Judge Robin Reese to set an execution date for Ronnie Lee Gardner. An execution would have to be scheduled no fewer than 30 days and no more than 60 days from the date a warrant is signed.
Manson's article notes that nine additional men are on Utah's death row.
The Deseret News article is, "Ronnie Lee Gardner wants to know resumes of executioners," by Emiley Morgan.
After 25 years on death row, Ronnie Lee Gardner now wants to see the résumés of those who may execute him.
Gardner has asked for basic information on those who may soon be carrying out his execution in an effort to make a more "informed choice" as to how he will die — by firing squad or by lethal injection.
A new death warrant is expected to be signed next Monday, and his execution could take place in May or June.
Attorneys for Gardner and the Department of Corrections stood before 3rd District Judge Robin Reese Monday and informed the judge of an agreement that has been made that will allow Gardner's attorney, Andrew Parnes, to inform Gardner about the training and education of those who would carry out his execution.
Gardner will not be allowed to see the redacted documents holding the information on the execution teams, and he won't be told any specifics such as their names and titles, assistant attorney general Sharel Reber said.
"Just the type of information to show what type of people will be carrying this out," Reber said. "Their education, an idea of what kind of expertise is going to be involved, no titles, etc., just their qualifications."
Reese clarified that this information will simply help Gardner to make "an informed choice between the two methods." Assistant attorney general Erin Riley said they will exclude "anything that will be a security risk" from the documents.
Gardner has the option of choosing his method of death despite a 2004 law passed by the Utah Legislature eliminating the firing squad, because he asked to die by firing squad at the time of his sentencing in 1985. Those who had asked for death by firing squad were grandfathered in under the old law and still have the option.
And:
Tom Patterson of the Department of Corrections said it was a "good argument" that Gardner would want the information on the execution team before making his decision, but he said the department is ready to carry out either method.
"We are prepared for both," he said. "Utah is the only state that has firing squad, and it becomes a novelty nationwide and even worldwide. If Mr. Gardner wants that, we're prepared to carry that out."
According to the Death Penalty Information Center's Execution Database, Utah has executed six men since 1977. Two of the executions were carried out by firing squad; the remainder by lethal injection. Gary Gilmore's execution on January 17, 1977, was the first post-Furman execution in America, and attracted a great deal of media attention. Gilmore's case is one of those addressed in the book Death Penalty Stories, noted in this post.
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