Stay of execution for Pa. inmate awaiting death
A federal appeals court is preventing the execution of a Pennsylvania inmate convicted of shooting to death a teen girl in 1993.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday sent the case of Hubert Lester Michael Jr. back to a district court judge for additional proceedings.
“On behalf of Hubert Michael, we are extremely pleased that the federal Court of Appeals has granted Mr. Michael a stay of execution,” a statement from Michael’s attorneys reads. “Mr. Michael has suffered from debilitating mental conditions throughout his life. Mr. Michael has compelling legal claims in his case which have never been reviewed by any court. The Court of Appeals recognized that there are complicated issues involved in this case that should be carefully considered.”
Michael had been hours away from being put to death by lethal injection for the killing of Trista Eng in York County.
He would have been the fourth person executed in the state in the past 50 years.
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