U.S. court halts execution of mentally ill Texas death row inmate
- 9 years ago
A federal appeals court stopped the execution of Scott Panetti - hours before he was set to be put to death for the murders of his wife's parents in Texas in 1992.
Lawyers for Panetti had argued their client is severely mentally ill, and should be spared the death chamber.
Ron Honberg from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, agrees.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RON HONBERG, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, SAYING:
"Scott Panetti has been severely, unequivocally mentally ill for 35 straight years. I mean, he has been delusional for pretty much that entire period of time. He was hospitalized ten times prior to the crime occurring, ten times in 12 years. He committed the crime while in the throes of very deep delusions."
The case of 56-year-old Panetti had also prompted human rights experts, Texas newspapers and many others to call for a stay.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RON HONBERG, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, SAYING:
"We would not be talkin
Lawyers for Panetti had argued their client is severely mentally ill, and should be spared the death chamber.
Ron Honberg from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, agrees.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RON HONBERG, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, SAYING:
"Scott Panetti has been severely, unequivocally mentally ill for 35 straight years. I mean, he has been delusional for pretty much that entire period of time. He was hospitalized ten times prior to the crime occurring, ten times in 12 years. He committed the crime while in the throes of very deep delusions."
The case of 56-year-old Panetti had also prompted human rights experts, Texas newspapers and many others to call for a stay.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RON HONBERG, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, SAYING:
"We would not be talkin