Texas inmate on death row for nearly 30 years ruled not competent to be executed

Texas inmate on death row for nearly 30 years ruled not competent to be executed

CBSN

A Texas death row inmate with a long history of mental illness, and who tried to call Jesus Christ and John F. Kennedy as trial witnesses, is not competent to be executed, a federal judge ruled.

Scott Panetti, 65, who has been on death row for nearly 30 years for fatally shooting his in-laws in front of his wife and young children, has contended that Texas wants to execute him to cover up incest, corruption, sexual abuse and drug trafficking he has uncovered. He has also claimed the devil has "blinded" Texas and is using the state to kill him to stop him from preaching and "saving souls."

In a ruling issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin said Panetti's well-documented mental illness and disorganized thought prevent him from understanding the reason for his execution.

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