Fla High Court: Ferguson Sane Enough For Lethal Injection
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — The execution of mass killer John Errol Ferguson will take place later this month after the Florida Supreme Court ruled he is sane and can therefore be executed by the state for the murders of eight victims more than 30-years ago.
Following the court's decision, Gov. Rick Scott rescheduled the execution for Oct. 23rd.
Ferguson is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court and seeking a stay of execution there.
The 64-year-old death row inmate was convicted of killing eight people in South Florida. Six victims died in a drug related, execution-style mass killing in Carol City in 1977. Six months later, Ferguson abducted and killed two Hialeah teenagers in 1978.
Gov. Scott originally postponed the execution to allow psychiatrists to again examine Ferguson who has a long history of paranoid schizophrenia.
The state justices upheld findings that Ferguson, although mentally ill, is legally competent because he understands the implications of being executed. Psychiatrists acknowledge that Ferguson believes he is the "Prince of God" and will return to earth after his death, but said he is understands what is about to happen to him and why, which makes him eligible to be executed.
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