Alabama Supreme Court denies request to set execution date

Tommy Arthur has been on Alabama’s death row for a quarter century for a murder he has always said he didn’t commit. In July, he came within hours of execution for the third time, before the Alabama Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of a stay while a lower court determined whether Arthur should get DNA testing or not. The Innocence Project has consulted with Arthur’s attorneys, and supports the DNA testing that could prove Arthur’s innocence or guilt.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Supreme Court again ruled in Arthur’s favor, rejecting an appeal from Alabama Attorney General Troy King to set an execution date for Arthur. The Supreme Court decided 6-2 that the state must wait for the Jefferson County Court to rule on the DNA testing claim before it set an execution date.

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Thousands of Innocence Project supporters have sent letters to Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, urging him to order DNA testing for Tommy Arthur.

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