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Federal judge revokes death sentence

FORT SMITH, Ark., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Arkansas has revoked the death sentence of a Mexican national who was declared mentally retarded by a psychologist.

U.S. District Judge Robert Dawson acted Thursday in the case of Raphael Camargo after public defenders and the state attorney general accepted an agreement that declared Camargo mentally retarded, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

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Camargo, speaking with the assistance of an interpreter, told the judge he understood and accepted the agreement, which means he will serve a life prison term.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled two years ago that the execution of the mentally retarded was unconstitutional.

Camargo was convicted and sentenced to death twice for the the October 1994 shotgun slaying of Deanna Petree, 18, and her 15-month-old son, Jonathan Macias. His first conviction was overturned and he was tried and convicted a second time.

Dr. Ricardo Weinstein, a psychologist, testified he determined Camargo was mentally retarded. Previous exams by the Arkansas State Hospital and a Fort Smith psychiatrist came to the opposite conclusion on his mental state.

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