Tuesday 17 July 2007

Alabama death row inmate loses appeal

July 16, 2007

Alabama

Alabama death row inmate loses appeal

The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama death row inmate Darrell Grayson lost a federal
court appeal Monday that could have delayed his scheduled execution in 10
days.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta upheld a lower court's
dismissal of a lawsuit that Grayson filed against state prison officials.
His suit challenged how Alabama carries out lethal injections.

In denying Grayson's appeal, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit noted
that he waited to challenge Alabama's execution procedures until 24 years
after his conviction and four years after the state enacted lethal injection
to replace the electric chair.

Siding with U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins, the appeals court said
Grayson offered no justification of why he could not have brought his legal
challenge earlier and said the real purpose behind his claim is to delay his
execution.

The Alabama Supreme Court has scheduled Grayson for execution on July 26 at
Holman Prison in Atmore.

Grayson was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die for killing
86-year-old Annie Laura Orr during a burglary of her Montevallo home on Dec.
24, 1980. He was 19 at the time of the slaying. A co-defendant, Victor
Kennedy, was executed on Aug. 6, 1999.

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Source : Associated Press

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1184628859167340.xml&storylist=alabamanews

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