New Serious Ohio Execution Date: Christopher Newton

Wednesday, 27 December 2006

New Serious Ohio Execution Date: Christopher Newton - February 27 (volunteer)

The Ohio Supreme Court today set a February 27, 2006 execution date for Christopher Newton. Newton is waiving further appeals available to him. On Nov. 3 the Richland County Common Pleas Court found him comptent to do so in a response to a pro se motion (i.e., filed by Newton himself). There are no further appeals pending or anticipated. This is a serious date.

Some immediately available sources of relevant info:

• Ohio Supreme Ct Jan. 2006 ruling upholding Newton's conviction and death sentence is here (35-page pdf). (Contains factual summary and legal background. Much of the Ohio Sup. Ct. appeal revolved around whether there was proper weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors during the sentencing phase of the trial (which took place before a 3-judge panel following Newton's waiver of a jury trial); whether his waiver of a jury trial was properly allowed; and various questions having to do with Newton's mental state.)
• Earlier post on the Ohio Supreme Ct's Aug. 1 ruling granting Newton's pro se motion for evaluation to determine competency to waive further appeals is here.
• Richland County Common Pleas Court ruling finding Newton competent to waive further appeals is here (2-page pdf).

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