[Deathpenalty] Ohio Governor Issues Reprieve for Spirko (1st Update to UA 221/05)

[Rick Halperin]

URGENT ACTION APPEAL UPDATE


9 September 2005
Further Information on UA 221/05 issued 24
August 2005 Death Penalty

USA/OHIO:  John Spirko (m)

Governor Bob Taft has issued a warrant of
reprieve for John Spirko, delaying his execution
date until 15 November 2005. He had been due to
be executed on 20 September.

The reprieve was issued on 8 September following
a recommendation from the Ohio Parole Board to
allow it time to hold a rehearing of John Spirko's
clemency petition. In a statement the governor
said, "I support the Parole Board's decision to
accept the proposal from both the Attorney
General and counsel for inmate Spirko to rehear
Mr. Spirko's case and reconsider its
recommendation." The clemency rehearing is set
for 12 October.

John Spirko was sentenced to death in 1984 for the
kidnap and murder of Betty Jane Mottinger in
August 1982. He denies carrying out the murder
and no physical or forensic evidence links him to
the crime.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please continue
to send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- calling on Governor Bob Taft to commute John
Spirko's death sentence.

APPEALS TO:
Governor Bob Taft
30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6117
Fax: 1 614 466 9354
Email: (via website)
http://governor.ohio.gov/contactinfopage.asp
            Governor.Taft at das.state.oh.us
Salutation:       Dear Governor


Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: uan at aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax:     303 258 7881

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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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