August 16, 2007
Kentucky
Baze's Lawyers Call for Delay of Execution
By Greg Stotelmyer, WTVQ News
Two days after the attorney general asked the governor to set an execution
date for death row inmate Ralph Baze, the cop killer's legal team said
signing a death warrant at this time would be premature. In a four page
letter delivered to Governor Ernie Fletcher Thursday afternoon, Baze's
attorneys said "... the Attorney General makes it sound as though no
litigation is pending. This is not accurate."
On Tuesday the Attorney General Greg Stumbo asked Fletcher to set a
September 18 execution date because Baze had "exhausted" his appeals in all
federal and state courts. But, the Department of Public Advocacy lawyers
say decisions are still pending on lethal injection cases in the U.S. and
Kentucky Supreme Courts.
Baze was one of two Kentucky death row inmates who lost a Kentucky Circuit
Court case in April 2005 which challenged the state's method of lethal
injection. The appeal of that ruling was sent to the state's highest court,
which granted a stay until Baze could seek review. The letter to Fletcher
says the AG is asking the governor to "circumvent the legal process" by
executing Baze six weeks before the litigation "could come to its natural
conclusion."
Baze gunned down Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and his brother in
law, Deputy Arthur Briscoe, outside Baze's rural home in 1992 as they
attempted to serve outstanding felony warrants.
Fletcher's legal adviser says the governor will make a decision soon.
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Source : WTVQ News
http://www.wtvq.com/midatlantic/tvq/new ... -0009.html
