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| Georgia Court Delays Execution |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/26/2002 |
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The Georgia Supreme Court last week delayed an execution 45 minutes before the inmate was scheduled to die to consider his claim he was unfairly denied clemency. The court said on August 14 it wanted more time to consider condemned killer Wallace Fugate's claim that the state Pardons and Paroles Board had a conflict of interest when it denied his appeal for mercy. It was the second stay of execution for Fugate, who got a reprieve two hours before his scheduled death June 18. Corrections officials said Fugate had eaten what was to be his last meal and said goodbye to his parents and a sister. Fugate's attorney, Stephen Bright, said the state board had challenged an earlier appeal by Fugate. 'You can't have a clemency hearing while you're trying to kill the man, but they did,' Bright said. Last month, the board held a clemency hearing for Fugate after asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the June 18 stay. Bright said that showed that the board had become adversarial to Fugate. The Supreme Court can lift the stay during the next several days. If the matter is not decided within that time, a judge must issue a new death warrant. Fugate was sentenced to die for the 1991 shooting of his wife, Pattie, shot during a struggle outside the family home. Fugate insisted the gun fired accidentally. |
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