Wayne Tompkins Execution Scheduled
February 3, 2009 on 6:00 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments |Below is an exerpt from a recent news story on the February 11th scheduled execution of Wayne Tompkins:
Gov. Charlie Crist scheduled the execution of Wayne Tompkins at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Florida State Prison near Starke. Attorney General Bill McCollum certified to Crist on Monday that all stays had been lifted and the governor is required to set a new execution date within 10 days.
Martin McClain, an attorney representing Tompkins, said the scheduling is very upsetting, because Tompkins is innocent.
On Dec. 5, the Florida Supreme Court rejected another request from Tompkins to let his lawyers investigate and present constitutional challenges based on a new sworn statement by a key witness. A former inmate who testified Tompkins admitted to him he was the killer now says a prosecutor told him to give the jury false information. The justices offered no explanation for their decision, but previously called the false testimony a harmless error.
McClain said the revelation should be grounds for a new trial.
It was not immediately know what appeals Tompkins has remaining.
Tompkins’ death warrant has been signed by two previous Florida governors, Bob Martinez in 1989 and Jeb Bush in 2001, but his case has gone through a series of appeals. Two other inmates have been executed since Crist took office: Mark Dean Schwab on July 1, 2008, and Richard Henyard on Sept. 23, 2008.
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