Georgia: death sentence commuted for mentally ill man

the Board of Pardons and Paroles of Georgia spared the life of Alexander Williams (see Feb. 19). It is only the 7th time that the board has voted to commute a death sentence to life and the 1st granted because of mental illness. The board sent 3 psychiatrists to evaluate Williams last Thursday and they made an oral report to the board Monday morning. Based on the psychiatrists´ findings, the board voted to commute Williams because of his mental illness.
The Board received many pleas for clemency, including those from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the European Union, the American Bar Association, and the former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.Meanwhile, officials in [the US state of ] Georgia are preparing to take the final steps towards executing Briton Tracy Housel.
The 42-year-old had his final appeal rejected by the US Supreme Court and could face execution by lethal injection within 10 days. Housel was sentenced to death in 1985 for the rape and murder of Jean Drew after an alleged crime spree.
The decision comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether the execution of retarded persons violates current legal consensus.