US court suspends execution of schizophrenic inmate

Austin (Texas), Dec 4 (IANS/EFE) A US appeals court has halted the controversial execution of schizophrenic prisoner Scott Panetti scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Texas, ruling that there are "complex legal questions" in the case.

The court decided to stay the execution so that it can examine these complex legal questions.

Panetti, who according to medical reports suffers from schizophrenia, in 1992 killed his in-laws and kidnapped his wife and three-year-old daughter in the Texas town of Fredericksburg. He was arrested a few hours later.

During his 1995 trial, he defended himself dressed as a cowboy and tried to call more than 200 witnesses, including former president John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II and Jesus Christ.

Since then, he has been hospitalised for psychosis and delusions on multiple occasions.

His attorneys, Greg Wiercioch and Kathryn Kase, while acknowledging their client's deeds, issued a statement in which they said the court ruling is the first step in a process that will clearly show that Panetti suffers from severe mental illness that makes him ineligible for the death penalty.

The case has attracted the attention of prominent figures and organisations, including the UN, which Tuesday asked the US to halt his execution.

--IANS/EFE

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