Thursday, November 8, 2012

Execution scheduled for tonight in Pennsylvania

Would be first execution in 13 years

Hubert Michael Jr. is to be executed tonight in Pennsylvania for murdering a teenage girl he randomly targeted 20 years ago. The last person executed in Pennsylvania was Gary Heidnik on July 6, 1999.  There have been only three executions in Pennsylvania since 1976.  All three were volunteers.

Michael was charged in 1991 with a violent rape in York County. He later would proclaim that he killed 16-year-old Trista Eng — while out on bail for a charge in Lancaster County — because he was "unjustly accused," reported the Lancaster New Era.

"He was angry about the Lancaster County case and wanted to take his anger out on a woman," York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said Wednesday, reciting Michael's court testimony.

Yesterday, a federal judge and the state Board of Pardons both denied Michael's motions for a stay of execution. He is to be executed tonight in death chamber at SCI Rockview at 7 pm.

A federal judge also ruled that witnesses to the execution be allowed "full visual and auditory observation." The full execution from start to finish will be viewed by witnesses, according to the New Era.

To read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/772714_Hubert-Michael-Jr--to-be-executed-tonight.html#ixzz2BdZA10M5

No comments:

Post a Comment