db44
Feb 5th, 2004, 03:08 AM
(Huntsville, Texas-AP) -- A federal judge in Texas has blocked the scheduled execution today of a convicted killer who had tried to subpoena Jesus Christ to testify at his trial.
The judge granted a 60-day reprieve while a state judge reconsiders whether Scott Panetti is too mentally ill to be executed. The 45-year-old man was convicted of killing his estranged wife's parents in 1992. The defense contends he's delusional and doesn't understand his sentence.
Panetti was allowed to represent himself during his trial, which he did dressed up in a cowboy outfit, mimicked John Wayne and blamed the killings on an alter-ego named "Sarge.'' He also tried to subpoena Jesus Christ and John Kennedy.
The judge granted a 60-day reprieve while a state judge reconsiders whether Scott Panetti is too mentally ill to be executed. The 45-year-old man was convicted of killing his estranged wife's parents in 1992. The defense contends he's delusional and doesn't understand his sentence.
Panetti was allowed to represent himself during his trial, which he did dressed up in a cowboy outfit, mimicked John Wayne and blamed the killings on an alter-ego named "Sarge.'' He also tried to subpoena Jesus Christ and John Kennedy.