SURPRISE!
Judge stays Mark Spotz execution
A federal judge has issued a stay of the scheduled Jan. 8 execution of condemned spree killer Mark Spotz.
Spotz is facing three death sentences for the murders of June Ohlinger in Schuykill County, Betty Amstutz in Cumberland County and Penny Gunnett in York County. The murders were committed during a four-day rampage in 1995.
This stay was for Gunnett's murder. Spotz previously received stays for the other two killings.
Spotz's attorney, Robert Dunham, had argued in motions that he needed more time to research the case before filing Spotz's petition for federal review in the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office countered that Dunham has represented Spotz throughout his post-conviction appeals beginning in April 1999 and so did not need more time to familiarize himself with the case.
Thursday, Chief Justice Yvette Kane issued the stay, explaining the U.S. Supreme Court, ruling on a prior case, left "clear directives" that the court is "obligated " to issue a stay when a death row inmate has an active appeal.
Spotz's petition for federal review is to be filed six days after his stayed execution date.
http://www.ydr.com/crime/ci_22239607...potz-execution
Bookmarks