RICHMOND, Va., May 15 (UPI) -- Virginia's governor says he won't intervene in the execution of Derick Demorris Walker, convicted in 1998 of shooting two men in front of relatives.
Gov. Bob McDonald turned down a request from Walker's lawyers to stop Thursday's scheduled execution by lethal injection, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as Walker's last chance, The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch reported.
Walker's lawyers have asked the high court to stay the execution so the justices can consider his appeals. Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to review the case on different grounds.
Walker was convicted of killing Stanley Beale, 36, on Nov. 22, 1996, and Clarence Elwood Threat, 34. Both were killed after the doors to their apartments were kicked in, the newspaper said.
In turning down the stay request, McDonald said, "Walker's trial, verdict and sentence have been reviewed by state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Virginia, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was rendered by the jury and imposed and affirmed by the courts."
