Post by Anja on Jun 25, 2006 7:05:06 GMT -5
Death row inmate's fate in the hands of the Miss. Supreme Court
The fate of death row inmate Bobby Glen Wilcher is now in the hands of the
Mississippi Supreme Court.
U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate on Friday rejected a motion
filed by Wilcher's attorney, Cliff Johnson, challenging Wilcher's
competence to drop all his appeals.
Last week, Wingate had granted Wilcher's request for the state to proceed
with executing him after being on death row for more than 20 years.
"He recognizes that the state of Mississippi will seek to execute him as
soon as possible. He is not suffering from any mental disease, disorder or
defect. He says he simply is at peace with his decision and wishes to
die," Wingate said.
State Attorney General Jim Hood has asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to
set a July 14 execution date, but Johnson has asked the court for a delay.
Wilcher, 44, was sentenced to death for the 1982 murders of Katie Belle
Moore and Velma Odell Noblin in Scott County. After the women agreed to
give him a ride home from a Forest bar, he diverted them down a side road
and stabbed them at least 20 times each.
Johnson said he will consider filing additional motions and seek appeals
options.
"I was appointed by the court to zealously represent Mr. Wilcher, and
that's exactly what I intend to do for as long as there's any possible
opportunity to protect him from execution at the hands of the state of
Mississippi," Johnson said.
Wilcher was tried in separate trials in 1984 for the murders, receiving
the death sentence in each case.
In 1993, new sentencing trials were ordered. Wilcher was re-sentenced to
death in 1994 in both cases. In 2003, the state Supreme Court ruled
against an appeal by him, saying that Wilcher presented no post conviction
claims that could lead to a new trial.
Mississippi last executed an inmate in December 2005, when John B. Nixon
Sr. received a lethal injection for the 1985 contract killing of Virginia
Tucker of Brandon.
The fate of death row inmate Bobby Glen Wilcher is now in the hands of the
Mississippi Supreme Court.
U.S. District Court Judge Henry T. Wingate on Friday rejected a motion
filed by Wilcher's attorney, Cliff Johnson, challenging Wilcher's
competence to drop all his appeals.
Last week, Wingate had granted Wilcher's request for the state to proceed
with executing him after being on death row for more than 20 years.
"He recognizes that the state of Mississippi will seek to execute him as
soon as possible. He is not suffering from any mental disease, disorder or
defect. He says he simply is at peace with his decision and wishes to
die," Wingate said.
State Attorney General Jim Hood has asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to
set a July 14 execution date, but Johnson has asked the court for a delay.
Wilcher, 44, was sentenced to death for the 1982 murders of Katie Belle
Moore and Velma Odell Noblin in Scott County. After the women agreed to
give him a ride home from a Forest bar, he diverted them down a side road
and stabbed them at least 20 times each.
Johnson said he will consider filing additional motions and seek appeals
options.
"I was appointed by the court to zealously represent Mr. Wilcher, and
that's exactly what I intend to do for as long as there's any possible
opportunity to protect him from execution at the hands of the state of
Mississippi," Johnson said.
Wilcher was tried in separate trials in 1984 for the murders, receiving
the death sentence in each case.
In 1993, new sentencing trials were ordered. Wilcher was re-sentenced to
death in 1994 in both cases. In 2003, the state Supreme Court ruled
against an appeal by him, saying that Wilcher presented no post conviction
claims that could lead to a new trial.
Mississippi last executed an inmate in December 2005, when John B. Nixon
Sr. received a lethal injection for the 1985 contract killing of Virginia
Tucker of Brandon.