[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----GEORGIA

[Rick Halperin]

May 15




GEORGIA----impending execution

Murderer denied clemency; will be executed Tuesday


The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied clemency for J.W. Ledford 
Jr., who will be executed Tuesday for the January 1992 murder of 73-year-old 
Dr. Harry Buchanan Johnston Jr. in Murray County.

The decision by the five-member parole board "came after an exhaustive review 
of the inmate’s parole case file and following a meeting today to receive 
information for or against clemency," according to a press release from the 
State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The hearing began this morning.

The Georgia Department of Corrections has scheduled Ledford’s execution for 
Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.

Ledford was convicted of malice murder, as well as two counts of armed robbery, 
one count of burglary and one count of kidnapping. The U.S. Supreme Court 
denied Ledford’s request to appeal on April 3. The Murray County Superior Court 
issued the order for the execution of Ledford.

"The parole board maintains a comprehensive file on each death row inmate," 
according to the press release. "The file contains the history of the inmate’s 
life, including the inmate’s criminal history and the circumstances of the 
crime that was committed resulting in the death sentence. Prior to today’s 
meeting the board members had thoroughly reviewed that information."

(source: Dalton Daily CITIZEN)