RALIEGH, NC - A Wake County judge refused Tuesday to postpone the execution of a death row inmate after nearly four dozen relatives asked to witness his death.

Attorneys for Samuel Flippen asked Superior Court Judge J.B. Allen to delay their client's execution while the courts considered the request from 45 of Flippen's relatives, who argue in a lawsuit that state law allows an unlimited number of family members to attend the execution.

Allen could have stalled the execution scheduled for 2 a.m. Friday by issuing a temporary restraining order, but he declined and said he doubted the lawsuit would be successful... Read more.

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