International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith...

International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith appealed to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to help save the life of fellow Scot Kenny Richey who had spent 18 years on Death Row in the US state of Ohio. Stafford Smith outlined the case for Richey's innocence and asked parliamentarians to sign a legal document to the Ohio supreme court in support of the condemned man. Edinburgh-born Richey had maintained his innocence since he was convicted of arson and aggravated murder after a child died in a fire in June 1986 in Ohio. Mr Stafford Smith said Richey was a British national entitled to the protection and assistance of the British government. He said: "There is no way in the time frame we have to get Westminster off its butt to do something, but I am hopeful of the Scottish Parliament. Stafford Smith wanted MSPs to sign an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief - a legal document which is filed with the court by individuals who are not party to the case, but who believe that the court's decision may be affected by their interest. Stafford Smith said the UK government had filed such a document in the case of Kris Maharaj, another British national sentenced to death in the US, but had not done so for Richey. He added: "There is every chance if he doesn't have that support, Kenny Richey will be executed. "If he has the support of the Scottish Parliament that enhances the probability that Kenny Richey will get justice."