Philadephia Judge Stays Terry Williams' Execution

CNN reports, "Stay of execution issued for convicted killer."

A Philadelphia judge ruled Friday to stay the execution of Pennsylvania convicted killer Terrance Williams and grant a new penalty phase in the case.

Williams, 46, was scheduled to be executed on October 3. No one disputes that Williams beat Amos Norwood to death with a tire iron in 1984 or that he should be in prison.

But his defense team says information that Norwood had allegedly sexually abused Williams was withheld from the trial, and his life should be spent in a cell.

"Philadelphia judge halts Terrance Williams' execution," at the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina took two days of new testimony from the trial prosecutors and an accomplice, then and this morning ruled to stay Williams' execution, citing government suppression of evidence.

She said: "Evidence has plainly been suppressed" and that prosecutor Andrea Foulkes was "playing fast and loose." Sarmina said Foulkes "had no problem disregarding her ethical obligations" in an attempt to win.

The judge's ruling is expected to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

"Judge stays execution of Terrance Williams," is Joseph A. Slobodzian's post at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge M. Theresa Sarmina today issued a stay of execution of condemned killer Terrance Williams.

Williams, 46, had been scheduled to die by lethal injection next Wednesday.

Sarmina's decision came a day after the state Board of Pardons agreed to hear for a second time Williams' plea for clemency plea, but put off any action in apparent deference to the court in Philadelphia.

The board's action to rehear William's clemency plea reversed a Sept. 17 vote in which the panel failed to recommend that Gov. Corbett commute the killer's death sentence to life in prison without parole.

Earlier coverage of Terry Williams' case begins at the link.

Related posts are in the prosecutorial misconduct category index.  The responsibility of the state to provide exculpatory evidence to the defense was articulated in the 1963 Supreme Court ruling in Brady v. Maryland; more via Oyez.