USA - Mississippi. Willie Russell, Black, has been permanently removed from death row because he is mentally disabled.

Willie Russell, Black, has been permanently removed from death row by a judge who ruled he is mentally disabled. Willie C. Russell was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the murder of Argentra Cotton, a Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) officer, on July 18, 1989, at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Russell was an inmate at the time of the murder, serving time on a conviction of armed robbery. Russell came within less than an hour of execution on Jan. 21, 1997, before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay due to his claim of mental retardation. There have been numerous court rulings in Russell's case. The case was sent on appeal back to the circuit court of Sunflower County to rule on Russell's mental retardation claim. Circuit Judge Betty Sanders recently ruled that Russell was mentally retarded, therefore permanently removing him from death row. The Constitution prohibits the execution of mentally retarded individuals. Russell will remain in prison, just not facing the death penalty.