28 September 2023 , 16:10
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Murderer Scott Panetti is not competent for execution due to his schizophrenia, a judge in Texas has ruled.
Gregory W. Wiercioch, Panetti's attorney, said the judge from the District Court for the Western District of Texas "did the right thing" in making the decision that would otherwise "offend humanity." It will mean Panetti, who murdered his in-laws in 1992, will not be executed.
"Judge Pitman’s ruling prevents the State of Texas from exacting vengeance on a person who suffers from a pervasive, severe form of schizophrenia that causes him to inaccurately perceive the world around him," Mr Wiercioch said. "The Eighth Amendment bars the execution of people who, like Mr. Panetti, are severely mentally ill and do not understand the reason for their punishment."
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Panetti killed Joe and Amanda Alvarado in 1992 (Texas Defender Service/Youtube)Under the law, the District Judge Robert Pitman determined that it was likely Panetti's condition would "interfere with his ability to rationally understand the connection between his offense and the reasons for his execution." The judge agreed with Panetti's attorneys that his execution would "offend humanity" and it would be a "miserable spectacle having no deterrent value."
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Texas prosecutors had previously admitted Panetti is suffering from a litany of delusions, including thinking he had been visited by US Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on death row. Other delusions included Panetti thinking he thought an implant has been planted in his tooth for spying purposes and he thought he had murdered when his body was taken over by an evil spirit named Sarge Ironhorse.
"His symptoms of psychosis interfere with his ability to rationally understand the connection between his crime and his execution.," Mr Wiercioch added. "For that reason, executing him would not serve the retributive goal of capital punishment and would simply be a miserable spectacle. His execution would offend humanity."
Panetti believes he once received a visit from Supreme Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett. He did not (Texas Defender Service/Youtube)Panetti murdered Joe and Amanda Alvarado over 30 years ago and killed them in front of his estranged wife and their daughter. He had been hospitalised fourteen times in six separate facilities between 1981 and 1992 because of his poor mental health.
He was deemed fit to stand trial despite his decision to defend himself and ramblings throughout the trial in which he wore a burgundy cowboy costume.
In his decision Judge Pitman wrote that it "is undisputed that Panetti is severely mentally ill, suffering from chronic schizophrenia for over forty years."
In March this year, the Texas House of Representatives passed legislation that barred the death penalty for people with severe mental illnesses. This includes people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Opponents of the bill argued it would become too hard to apply the death penalty in any case, but it passed on a 97-48 vote.