Va. executes Lenz for inmate slaying

JARRATT, Va., July 27 (UPI) -- Virginia Thursday executed Michael Lenz for his role in the 2000 stabbing death of fellow prison inmate Brent Parker.

Lenz was the first person to be executed in Virginia for killing another inmate since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Lenz was put to death by injection at Greensville Correctional Center. He was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. EDT, the newspaper said.

Lenz was the third person executed in Virginia since Gov. Timothy Kaine took office in January. Kaine -- who has delayed until December the execution of Percy Walton because of questions about Walton's mental state -- denied Lenz' petition for clemency.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Lenz's petition and his request for a stay of execution, the newspaper said, although a court spokesman said two justices -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul Stevens -- indicated they would have granted the application for a stay.

Attorneys for Lenz argued that his right to a fair and impartial jury was violated because jurors consulted a Bible while deliberating whether he should be executed.