Obese killer spared by governor

An obese killer on Ohio death row successfully petitioned for clemency, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Monday.

The attorneys of Ronald Post, who was condemned to execution for the 1983 murder of a motel clerk, petitioned fro clemency on claims both that his original defense had been inadequate and that he could not be humanely put to death due to his size.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich agreed to grant clemency to Post, following the Ohio Parole Board's 5-3 recommendation.

According to the Plain Dealer, the board said Post should not be executed, hinging their argument not on his 480-pound girth, but because he was not effectively defended by his original attorneys:

The board said the mistakes by Post's original attorneys included having Post take a polygraph test from an examiner who had already been retained by the prosecution in the case as well as enter a no contest plea with no assurance it would be considered mitigation in the sentencing phase.

"Regardless of the heinous nature of their crime, a criminal defendant is entitled to an effective defense, especially in a death penalty case," said Kasich in the statement.

Post will spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility of parole, Kasich said.