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April 7, 2020
Yet another Texas execution postponed due to coronavirus
As reported in this new AP piece, headlined "4th Texas execution delayed in midst of virus outbreak," administration of the death penalty in the US continue to be halted amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Here is more:
A fourth scheduled execution of a Texas death row inmate was delayed Monday because of the coronavirus spread around the state. Billy Joe Wardlow’s execution was postponed from April 29 to July 8.
Wardlow, 45, was condemned for the June 1993 fatal shooting of 82-year-old Carl Cole during a robbery at his home in Cason, located about 130 miles (209 kilometers) east of Dallas....
The execution date was changed by state District Judge Angela Saucier of Titus County in East Texas. While Saucier didn’t mention COVID-19 in her order, Morris County District Attorney Steve Cowan had requested the change citing the statewide disaster declaration due to the virus. He also cited three other executions the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals delayed in March and earlier this month. Wardlow’s attorneys had requested the execution date instead be withdrawn, which would have resulted in a new date much later than July 8.
Some prior related capital COVID posts:
- "Appeals Court Delays Texas Execution Due To Coronavirus Outbreak"
- Texas Court of Appeals stays a second execution for 60 days due to COVID-19
- "How Coronavirus is Disrupting the Death Penalty"
- Might COVID-19 ultimately bring an end to the death penalty in the United States?
April 7, 2020 at 10:51 AM | Permalink