Murderer sane enough for execution
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.WASHINGTON - Horace Kelly, a triple murderer on Death Row in California, is sane enough to be executed, a jury decided yesterday, writes Andrew Marshall.
The case of Kelly, 38, has raised high passions. He was sentenced to death for killing two women and an 11-year-old boy, and had been scheduled for execution last month. But his lawyers say that he is insane and should not be executed, a view that received some backing from a prison medical report. They say that he speaks gibberish, has no idea where he is and cannot understand what is happening to him.
The decision was referred to a jury in San Rafael. Yesterday, by nine to three, they decided that he was fit to die. There were two questions before the jury: whether Kelly knew he had been sentenced to death, and why. They took less than two hours to decide that he did.
The verdict means that the execution process will now be restarted, though Kelly's lawyers are expected to appeal.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments