Scott Panetti execution halted - The execution of a convicted killer has been halted because of the severe extent of his mental illness. On Wednesday, a federal appeals court halted the execution of Scott Panetti who was convicted of killing his in-laws in 1995
Reports indicate that less than 8 hours before he was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted that the Scott Panetti execution be stayed. The court said the execution was halted in order for questions concerning the legality of executing people who are too sick to comprehend their actions, to be answered.
According to court documents, Scott Panetti's execution was halted in order for the court to look further into his case.
The court decision comes after raging debates over the questions of whether mentally sick people should be executed for their crimes.
"We are really pleased that cooler heads have prevailed," defense lawyer Kathryn Kase said after the court's verdict was announced.
Reports indicate that the Texas Attorney General's Office have said they would not appeal against the court's verdict. Although they intially argued that Panetti was faking it.
This is not the first time Scott Panetti's execution has been halted. In 2007 the Supreme Court stayed his execution in order for a test into his mental state.
"Mr. Panetti's illness, schizophrenia, was present for years prior to the crime, profoundly affected his trial, and appears to have worsened in recent years," Panetti's legal team said in a statement.
"Mr. Panetti has not had a competency evaluation in seven years, and we believe that today's ruling is the first step in a process which will clearly demonstrate that Mr. Panetti is too severely mentally ill to be executed," the statement added.
Reports indicate that in 1982 the Supreme Court banned the execution of people who have no idea that they are going to be legally put to death and the reasons why.
Local sources say Texas authorities planned to execute Panetti despite appeals from several institutions, most notably, the American Psychiatric Association and the European Union.
In the 1995 capital murder trial of Panetti, he chose to defend himself and even admitted to getting armed and dressing up, wearing camouflage; before shooting the parents of his estranged wife in the Texas Hill County home. His wife and 3 year old daughter were present at the scene of the murders.
He also came to court dressed like a cowboy carrying a subpoena for the pope, he also called Jesus and John F. Kennedy as witnesses. His lawyers say Panetti is delusional and thinks his execution is being organized by Satan as retribution for preaching in the prison.
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