USA - Indiana. Death sentence of Tommy Pruitt thrown out

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the death sentence of Tommy Pruitt, ruling he is intellectually disabled and categorically ineligible for execution. The Court opinion also found Pruitt's trial attorneys did not effectively present evidence that he suffers from schizophrenia. The appeals court sent the case back to a lower court for resentencing, and Pruitt remains in custody. Pruitt was convicted on Oct. 30, 2003 (see) in the slaying of Morgan County Deputy Dan Starnes on June 14, 2001.