Russell Holden Jr., sentenced to death 19 years ago, has had the sentence vacated
Russell Holden Jr., sentenced to death 19 years ago, has had the sentence vacated
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Russell Holden Jr., sentenced to death 19 years ago, has had the sentence vacated by District Court Judge Russell J. Lanier Jr., who determined that he is mentally retarded.
Holden, 48, will now serve a life sentence. He was convicted in September 1985 of the murder and attempted rape in March 1985 of a woman.
Testimony at a hearing in Duplin County last month showed that Holden has an IQ below 70, the threshold set under a state law passed in 2001 that prohibits the execution of the mentally retarded. Holden is the 10th mentally retarded prisoner removed from death row since the law passed.
Holden, 48, will now serve a life sentence. He was convicted in September 1985 of the murder and attempted rape in March 1985 of a woman.
Testimony at a hearing in Duplin County last month showed that Holden has an IQ below 70, the threshold set under a state law passed in 2001 that prohibits the execution of the mentally retarded. Holden is the 10th mentally retarded prisoner removed from death row since the law passed.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Associated Press, 10/10/2004)
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