As execution nears, Skillicorn loses two more appeals

Legal options for a Kansas City man scheduled to be executed shortly after midnight tonight continue to dwindle with the denial of more appeals.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis late Monday denied Dennis Skillicorn’s appeal of a federal judge’s ruling last week. The ruling concerned whether Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon can fairly consider Skillicorn’s clemency request because of his previous role as Missouri attorney general.

The appeals court on Monday also denied a separate motion by Skillicorn seeking a stay of execution.

Skillicorn, 49, was sentenced to death for the 1994 killing of Richard Drummond in Lafayette County. Drummond was shot to death by a co-defendant of Skillicorn after Drummond stopped to help them after their car had broken down.

Skillicorn still has a legal action pending in U.S. District Court in Kansas City and is seeking a hearing from the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Source:www.kansascity.com)