The daughter of the woman Stacy Eugene Johnson was convicted of killing has asked the parole board to spare the death row inmate's life.
Ashley Heath on Thursday asked that Johnson be sentenced instead to life in prison without parole for the 1993 murder of her mother, Carol Heath. She said she had forgiven him and didn't want to see him put to death.
The parole board hearing was continuing early Thursday afternoon. See Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.
EARLIER:
GRADY — One of eight Arkansas death row inmates whose executions were stayed by a circuit court is asking the Arkansas Parole Board for clemency.
Stacey Eugene Johnson's defense attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, told the board Thursday that Johnson may be innocent and his sentence should be commuted to life without parole.
Johnson was convicted in the 1993 death of Carol Heath, who was killed while her two young children were home.
Rosenzweig said one child was deemed incompetent to testify and her statements should not have been read to the jury. He also said Johnson was denied access to the child's competency records for a second trial.
Heath's family and the state — which is appealing the stays of the executions — are to speak to the parole board Thursday afternoon.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.