Amnesty International UK and UK anti-death penalty organisation Reprieve expressed...

Amnesty International UK and UK anti-death penalty organisation Reprieve expressed disappointment at news that the state of Ohio was seeking to challenge a recent decision to overturn the conviction of Kenny Richey, a Scottish man on death row in Ohio. Ohio’s Attorney General Jim Petro filed papers on February 9 in an attempt to re-hear Kenny Richey’s appeal, despite the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati declaring in January that his conviction should be overturned. One of the reasons cited was the “incompetent” work by Mr Richey’s lawyer at his original trial. The successful appeal, which had been one of the last available appeals open to Richey, came only two days before the day that saw the Scotsman reaching his 18th full year on death row. Mr Richey was convicted of arson and murder in the state of Ohio in 1986 and sentenced to death on 27 January 1987. Evidence since emerged casting serious doubt on Mr Richey’s guilt. 
Amnesty International Campaigns Coordinator Sara Mac Neice said:
“News that Ohio is seeking to prolong Kenny Richey’s time on death row is extremely disappointing after a court had determined that his conviction should be overturned.
Clive Stafford-Smith, the leading British-born US death penalty lawyer and founder of UK anti-death penalty organisation Reprieve, said:
“This delay means that Kenny will spend even longer in prison for a crime he did not commit. “Kenny has had to deal with so much throughout this case and sadly it appears that the prosecutors wish to prolong this for him even longer.”