Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Supreme Court Stays Execution of Ga. Man

ATLANTA -- The U.S. Supreme Court gave a reprieve Tuesday to a condemned Georgia man, less than two hours before he was to be executed for the 1989 slaying of an off-duty police officer.

Supporters of 39-year-old Troy Davis have called for a new trial as seven of the nine witnesses who helped put him on death row recanted their testimony. Prosecutors have labeled the witness statements "suspect," and courts had previously refused requests for a new trial.

The stay of execution will remain in effect while the Supreme Court considers Davis's appeal. Davis wants the high court to order a judge to hear from the witnesses who recanted their testimony and from others who say another man confessed to the crime.

Disability Rules for Vets Change

A new Department of Veterans Affairs regulation now says that a person with the mildest form of traumatic brain injury can be up to 40 percent disabled in such cases, up from a maximum of 10 percent. The new compensation is based on the assessment that troops with such brain injuries could end up with chronic headaches, memory loss, anxiety or other symptoms that will hurt their chances of getting a job or of advancing in the workplace. The number of traumatic brain injury cases has grown from roadside bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Panel Advances Nuclear Deal

A U.S.-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement moved closer to approval by Congress on Tuesday, following its approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But it remained unclear whether the full Congress would follow suit before wrapping up for the year. The accord, one of President Bush's top foreign policy initiatives, faces opposition from those who say the extra fuel the measure provides could boost India's nuclear bomb stockpile by freeing up its domestic uranium for weapons. India has refused to sign nonproliferation agreements and has faced a nuclear trade ban since its first atomic test in 1974.

U.S.: Suspect May Be Unfit for Trial

NEW YORK -- A federal judge entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman suspected of links to al-Qaeda and charged with trying to kill U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan. Siddiqui had refused to attend court to enter a plea herself, and prosecutors said she may be unfit to stand trial. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said that there is reason to believe Siddiqui is suffering from a mental disease.

Woman Admits Buying Son Rifle

NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- A woman admitted she bought her troubled, bullied 14-year-old son a rifle with a laser scope and gunpowder, which investigators said he was using to build grenades. They still don't know if she was aware her son was building a weapons cache in preparation for a deadly school attack. Michele Cossey, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment, which carries a maximum possible prison term of 3 1/2 to 7 years.

Man Admits to 8 Murders in La.

HOUMA, La. -- A man suspected of killing as many as 23 men in southern Louisiana over 10 years pleaded guilty to eight slayings and was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms in prison. Ronald Dominique, 44, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with Terrebonne Parish officials in a deal to avoid the death penalty.

-- From News Services