(AP) – An Arkansas man who was previously scheduled for
execution is pleading for additional DNA testing to prove he’s innocent in a 1993 murder.
The Texarkana Gazette reports that Stacey Eugene Johnson has been twice
convicted of the murder of Carol Heath. Johnson was among eight inmates who were scheduled for execution in April, but the Arkansas Supreme Court granted a last-minute stay so he could seek more DNA tests in hopes of proving his innocence.Witnesses at Wednesday’s hearing in De Queen discussed the improvements in DNA testing since the original tests were run nearly 25 years ago.
execution is pleading for additional DNA testing to prove he’s innocent in a 1993 murder.
The Texarkana Gazette reports that Stacey Eugene Johnson has been twice
convicted of the murder of Carol Heath. Johnson was among eight inmates who were scheduled for execution in April, but the Arkansas Supreme Court granted a last-minute stay so he could seek more DNA tests in hopes of proving his innocence.Witnesses at Wednesday’s hearing in De Queen discussed the improvements in DNA testing since the original tests were run nearly 25 years ago.
The prosecutor defended the DNA testing methods conducted in two previous
trials.
Three other inmates who were scheduled for execution received stays. The state eventually executed four inmates over a two-week period.
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