USA - Missouri. The US Supreme Court has delayed the execution of Russell Bucklew

The US Supreme Court has delayed the execution of Russell Bucklew in Missouri hours before a deadline, sending his case to the federal appeals court. The ruling came three weeks after a botched lethal injection in Oklahoma last month stirred fresh debate about capital punishment in the United States. All three executions that had been scheduled to take place after that event have since been delayed. Bucklew had originally been set to die at 12.01am this morning before legal proceedings late yesterday ended with a temporary stay issued by the Supreme Court. The latest ruling came within hours of the end of that temporary stay. Lawyers for the inmate had argued that a rare medical condition suffered by Bucklew that leaves him with growths on his head and neck put him at risk of excruciating pain during his execution, making it unconstitutional. (see also May 20 and 21).