The 5th U

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today halted the execution of Robert Charles Ladd, 46, about nine hours before Ladd could have been taken to the death chamber for lethal injection. The Court put off the scheduled evening punishment after attorneys found juvenile records indicating he once was described as mentally retarded. Ladd was convicted of the Sept. 25, 1996 beating death of Vickie Ann Garner.