By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Attorneys for Alabama death row inmate Tommy Arthur are seeking a stay of his execution Thursday based on the governor's decision to change the state's lethal injection procedures.
Governor Riley decided Wednesday to change the procedures to provide extra safeguards that an inmate in unconscious before being administered drugs to stop the lungs and heart. Riley's spokesman, Jeff Emerson, says details of the change are still being worked out and the change can't be implemented in time for Arthur's execution, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Holman Prison in Atmore.
Arthur's attorney, Suhana Han, asked the Alabama Supreme Court today to postpone the execution because of the planned change. She says the state is conceding there are problems with the execution procedure.
But Riley's spokesman and Assistant Attorney General Clay Crenshaw say the state isn't conceding anything. Crenshaw describes it as a very minor change to provide more safeguards.
Emerson says the change could involve more anesthetic and an extra check for unconsciousness.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)