Jack McConnell was urged to help prevent the execution...

Jack McConnell was urged to help prevent the execution of Kenny Richey, a Scot who had spent almost 18 years on death row in the US state of Ohio. Pauline McNeill, a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), tabled a Scottish parliamentary motion calling on the First Minister to intervene to back an appeal by Richey. 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. Richey refused to accept a plea-bargain which would have ensured that he would have been paroled more than a decade ago. Ms McNeill wanted Mr McConnell to urge the UK government to make "direct and robust representations" to the US authorities on Richey's behalf. "The new evidence in Kenny Richey's case seems persuasive and I believe he should be given the chance to present it in court... Tony Blair and his ministers have a lot of popular support in the United States," McNeil said.