In Alabama, half an hour before the start canceled the execution of the killer

Photo: Equal Justice Initiative

The US Supreme Court suspended execution of the execution of 67-year-old Vernon Madison convicted for the murder of police officer Julius Soltie in April 1985 half an hour before the scheduled time. Writes Medusa, Madison managed to eat his “last food” - two oranges.

It is noted that the murder was committed in 1985 year in Mobile, the capital of Alabama. Madison was having a fight with his girlfriend Cheryl Green that day. The quarrel was seen by policeman Solti, who arrived on Green's call to find out the details of her daughter’s disappearance. But the girl returned home before the arrival of Solti. The policeman found a quarrel between Green and Madison and called for help. A police officer asked Madison to leave, but the latter returned with a gun and shot the policeman with two shots to the head, and also wounded Green.

The man was sentenced to death three times - in 1985, 1990 and 1994. In the first two cases, the lawyers managed to prove that Madison was mentally ill, in the third - the man claimed that he acted in self-defense. The first two times the sentences were canceled due to violations. In 1994, the jury voted for life imprisonment, but the judge insisted on the death sentence.

In 2018, the second transfer of Madison’s execution took place - in May 2016, the execution of the sentence was canceled a few hours before the execution. Then the lawyers argued that because of dementia, Madison did not remember the crime - and, thus, did not fully understand why he was going to be killed. This argument was eventually rejected by the Supreme Court - he ruled that the convict was able to understand that he was being executed for murder, in which he was found guilty.

Now the main argument of the defense is that since 2017, judges in Alabama cannot pass the death sentence if the jury has been in favor of a milder punishment. According to lawyers, the execution of such a verdict in the case of Vernon Madison would contradict the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits unreasonably cruel punishments. The defense insists that the sentence should be revised, writes the local site.

Lawyers also sent a letter to the governor of Alabama with a request for a mitigation of punishment, in which they stated that it was inhumane to execute a patient with dementia and pointed out many other health problems with Madison. The answer of the governor is still unknown.

The execution was suspended pending a decision by the Supreme Court regarding another complaint of Madison’s defense. If the court decides not to consider her, Madison will be executed.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Passion for Arms: Why the US Can't Stop Frequent Mass Executions

The most famous serial killer died in California

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.