A mentally-handicapped man is to be put to death in the US state of Georgia on Tuesday, despite protests from human rights activists and mental health advocates calling the execution a miscarriage of justice.
Warren Hill, a 52-year-old African American, is reported to have an IQ of 70, putting him below the threshold for mental disability. “There is no dispute among the experts that Mr Hill is mentally retarded,” attorney Brian Kammer wrote in an appeal seeking leniency.
“Because Mr Hill’s execution would be a fundamental miscarriage of justice, this Court must stay Mr Hill’s imminent execution and vacate his death sentence,” he added.
Published 18 February 2013, 19:31 IST