Post by SoulTrainOz on Jun 13, 2006 21:09:17 GMT -5
Convicted killer on death row for killing two Clarksville girls
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John Gasaway will rule today whether convicted killer Paul Dennis Reid will be granted a mental competency hearing.
If, after an evidentiary hearing, Reid is found to be incompetent, state law requires a stay of his execution, said Kelly Gleason, a state Assistant Post-Conviction Defender.
Reid is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection June 28 for the murder of 2 Clarksville Baskin-Robbins employees in April 1997.
He is also facing five additional death penalties for the murder of five fast-food employees in Nashville the same year.
Reid's sister, Linda Martiniano, is appealing for post-conviction relief and a stay of execution for Reid as a "next friend" because he has ceased pursuing appeals - the second time he has done so.
In the same ruling that denied Reid's appeal of his Clarksville convictions, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in May that a close relative or friend could pursue appeals when the petitioner - in this case, Reid - is suspected to be mentally incompetent.
Gleason submitted on Reid's behalf a petition calling for Gasaway to "find that (Reid's) convictions for first-degree murder and sentences of death are invalid, unconstitutional and void, and order a new trial and sentencing hearing."
On Monday, Gleason also submitted a request to put Reid's execution on hold and to be formally appointed as Reid's attorney in Montgomery County. Gleason is formally representing him in Davidson County, where she has already filed for post-conviction relief.
For today's ruling, Gasaway will only consider written evidence filed by Gleason. It includes affidavits by herself, Martiniano and George Woods, a neuropsychiatrist who has twice examined Reid.
"Mr. Reid's delusions, that he has been under the control of a
government-directed surveillance and influence, impels, invades and guides his daily activities as well as decision making processes," Woods wrote in his affidavit.
"Literally every aspect of his life is affected," Gleason told Gasaway Monday.
Gleason said Reid is convinced he is being manipulated by "scientific technology" at every turn, even while using the shower.
Reid also considers Gleason to be "the enemy" and part of a conspiracy against him, Gleason said. After Monday's hearing, Gleason said Reid is the most mentally ill convict she has represented.
June 28 is the 3rd execution date set for Reid.
A stay was issued on April 28, 2003, when Reid signed paperwork authorizing an appeal on 2 of the Nashville murders. The stay came just 2 hours before his execution, but after his intended last meal.
A subsequent execution date of Oct. 2006 - for the murders of Baskin-Robbins employees Angela Holmes, 21, and Michelle Mace, 16 - was delayed while the conviction was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
(source: The Leaf Chronicle)
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John Gasaway will rule today whether convicted killer Paul Dennis Reid will be granted a mental competency hearing.
If, after an evidentiary hearing, Reid is found to be incompetent, state law requires a stay of his execution, said Kelly Gleason, a state Assistant Post-Conviction Defender.
Reid is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection June 28 for the murder of 2 Clarksville Baskin-Robbins employees in April 1997.
He is also facing five additional death penalties for the murder of five fast-food employees in Nashville the same year.
Reid's sister, Linda Martiniano, is appealing for post-conviction relief and a stay of execution for Reid as a "next friend" because he has ceased pursuing appeals - the second time he has done so.
In the same ruling that denied Reid's appeal of his Clarksville convictions, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in May that a close relative or friend could pursue appeals when the petitioner - in this case, Reid - is suspected to be mentally incompetent.
Gleason submitted on Reid's behalf a petition calling for Gasaway to "find that (Reid's) convictions for first-degree murder and sentences of death are invalid, unconstitutional and void, and order a new trial and sentencing hearing."
On Monday, Gleason also submitted a request to put Reid's execution on hold and to be formally appointed as Reid's attorney in Montgomery County. Gleason is formally representing him in Davidson County, where she has already filed for post-conviction relief.
For today's ruling, Gasaway will only consider written evidence filed by Gleason. It includes affidavits by herself, Martiniano and George Woods, a neuropsychiatrist who has twice examined Reid.
"Mr. Reid's delusions, that he has been under the control of a
government-directed surveillance and influence, impels, invades and guides his daily activities as well as decision making processes," Woods wrote in his affidavit.
"Literally every aspect of his life is affected," Gleason told Gasaway Monday.
Gleason said Reid is convinced he is being manipulated by "scientific technology" at every turn, even while using the shower.
Reid also considers Gleason to be "the enemy" and part of a conspiracy against him, Gleason said. After Monday's hearing, Gleason said Reid is the most mentally ill convict she has represented.
June 28 is the 3rd execution date set for Reid.
A stay was issued on April 28, 2003, when Reid signed paperwork authorizing an appeal on 2 of the Nashville murders. The stay came just 2 hours before his execution, but after his intended last meal.
A subsequent execution date of Oct. 2006 - for the murders of Baskin-Robbins employees Angela Holmes, 21, and Michelle Mace, 16 - was delayed while the conviction was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
(source: The Leaf Chronicle)