An Alabama judge has issued a temporary stay on the upcoming execution of convicted killer David Lee Roberts.
The execution was halted pending an evaluation of his mental competency.
The stay comes as state officials investigate whether Roberts is mentally fit to face the death penalty.
Roberts, 59, is due to be executed for the 1992 murder of Annetra Jones.
He was scheduled to be executed on August 21 for the shooting death of Jones.
However, Marion County Circuit Judge Talmage Lee Carter halted the execution in light of concerns that Roberts may not have a “rational understanding” of the consequences of his impending death.
The judge explained that the key issue was whether Roberts’ perception of reality is so impaired that he cannot comprehend the connection between his crime and the punishment awaiting him.
The judge’s ruling keeps the execution on hold until the Alabama Department of Mental Health completes its evaluation of Roberts’ mental state.
The state is under pressure to expedite this assessment, however.
Roberts’ attorneys argue that he is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
As such, they insist that he is incapable of understanding the reasons for his execution.
Roberts’ defense team provided evidence of his delusions, including claims that he hears voices.
In one example, they say he has attempted to remove tattoos from his body, believing they were controlling his thoughts.
His attorneys argue that this behavior demonstrates Roberts’ incompetence to be executed, as his delusions prevent him from having a rational understanding of the punishment he is facing.
The Alabama attorney general’s office has not contested the stay but has urged that the competency evaluation be completed quickly.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individuals who are insane and do not understand the reasons for their execution cannot be put to death.
Yet, Alabama law lacks a clear standard for determining competency in capital punishment cases.
Roberts was convicted of the 1992 murder of Annetra Jones in Marion County.
He shot Jones three times in the head with a .22 caliber rifle while she slept on a couch at a house belonging to her boyfriend.
After the murder, Roberts set the house on fire.
While a jury recommended life in prison without parole, the judge overrode the recommendation and sentenced Roberts to death.
Alabama no longer allows judges to override jury sentences in capital cases.
As the state navigates these complex legal and ethical issues, the fate of David Lee Roberts remains uncertain, and the legal challenges surrounding his execution will continue to unfold.
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