Johnston set for March 9 execution in Fla.

2/19/10

Gov. Charlie Crist set a new execution date of March 9 for David Johnston, who was convicted of killing an elderly woman in 1983.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Charlie Crist set a new execution date of March 9 for David Johnston, who was convicted of killing an elderly woman in 1983.

Crist issued the order Friday after Attorney General Bill McCollum certified that the Florida Supreme Court had lifted its stay of execution on Jan. 21.

Johnston, 49, was convicted of murder for stabbing and strangling 84-year-old Mary Hammond at her Orlando home.

Crist signed a death warrant last April but the Supreme Court stayed Johnston's May 27 execution so DNA testing could be conducted. The tests showed material from under the victim's fingernails was consistent with Johnston's DNA.

He is to be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke.