Nevada court stays execution of murderer at 11th hour
Criminal Law
[##_1L|1371563251.jpg|width="180" height="135" alt=""|_##]Nevada's highest court gave a reprieve to a former construction worker scheduled to die on Monday, ruling that his execution should await a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the issue of lethal injection and that the state's methods involved excessive sedation. William Castillo, 34, was to be injected with a deadly combination of drugs administered by prison guards at Nevada State Prison -- one of the country's oldest -- in Carson City.
Late on Monday, the Nevada State Supreme Court agreed to a request by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada to stay the execution pending an upcoming ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of execution by lethal injection. The country's highest court agreed on September 25 to review the issue, the same day Castillo was scheduled to die.
The Nevada court also said the state's methods are cruel and unusual because the prisoner is so heavily sedated it is impossible for witnesses to determine the actual effects of the injection, effectively violating First Amendment rights.
The ruling is an effective reprieve because Castillo's execution order is only good for a week, and the U.S. Supreme Court is not expected to rule before then. A number of states, including California, have halted executions pending the legal review of whether the current method of lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Castillo had given up his remaining appeals, saying he was ready to die for bludgeoning an 86-year-old Las Vegas teacher to death in 1995.
Castillo worked on Isabel Brendt's roof, then returned with a female companion after finding a house key. He burglarized the home and beat Brendt to death with a tire iron. They later burned down the home.
Related listings
-
Class Action Lawsuit Against NutriSystem, Inc.
Criminal Law 10/16/2007Klafter & Olsen LLP announces that it has filed a class action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a Class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased the common stock of Nut...
-
'Mansion Madam' pleads guilty to prostitution
Criminal Law 10/12/2007[##_1L|1132441984.jpg|width="120" height="88" alt=""|_##]Former Penthouse model Lisa Ann Taylor pleaded guilty Wednesday to prostitution and drug charges, culminating a high profile criminal case involving sordid allegations in an exclusive neighborh...
-
Man Pleads Guilty to 2nd Kidnapping
Criminal Law 10/10/2007[##_1L|1260256715.jpg|width="120" height="88" alt=""|_##]A former pizzeria manager said Tuesday that he attempted to kill a boy he kidnapped and held captive in his apartment, but the child persuaded him not to do it.Michael Devlin, 41, pleaded guilt...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.