chloe
06-13-2010, 06:49 PM
SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah man set to die by firing squad next week made his final appeal for clemency Friday, with his attorneys saying he's a changed man. They're asking the state parole board to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole.
The decision whether to spare Ronnie Lee Gardner's life now sits in the hands of the five-member Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. The board is now deliberating and will announce a decision Monday morning.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said there could be other legal challenges up to the last minute.
"That's why the state of Utah, the director of corrections must contact me just prior to the execution to make sure all the legal remedies have been denied and they can go forward with the execution," he said.
Board members have over 1,000 pages of testimony, reports and other court documents to review before making a final decision on whether to commute Gardner's sentence.
Closing arguments from the defense
Gardner was not present at Friday's hearing because of pain issues with arthritis. But his attorney, Andrew Parnes, along with the state prosecutor, presented nearly 90 minutes of closing arguments to the board.
Parnes said his client is a changed man who is remorseful for the crimes he's committed. He asked the board to consider whether Gardner's sentence was initially inappropriate.
"Mr. Gardner acknowledged that he created quite a large deal of harm to the families," Parnes said. "He acknowledges that. He understands that. That is not in dispute."
Parnes also says evidence of Gardner's troubled childhood should be considered in their decision making.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11131017
I think his execution is scheduled for Thursday
The decision whether to spare Ronnie Lee Gardner's life now sits in the hands of the five-member Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. The board is now deliberating and will announce a decision Monday morning.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said there could be other legal challenges up to the last minute.
"That's why the state of Utah, the director of corrections must contact me just prior to the execution to make sure all the legal remedies have been denied and they can go forward with the execution," he said.
Board members have over 1,000 pages of testimony, reports and other court documents to review before making a final decision on whether to commute Gardner's sentence.
Closing arguments from the defense
Gardner was not present at Friday's hearing because of pain issues with arthritis. But his attorney, Andrew Parnes, along with the state prosecutor, presented nearly 90 minutes of closing arguments to the board.
Parnes said his client is a changed man who is remorseful for the crimes he's committed. He asked the board to consider whether Gardner's sentence was initially inappropriate.
"Mr. Gardner acknowledged that he created quite a large deal of harm to the families," Parnes said. "He acknowledges that. He understands that. That is not in dispute."
Parnes also says evidence of Gardner's troubled childhood should be considered in their decision making.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11131017
I think his execution is scheduled for Thursday