Braun denies clemency for Ward; execution to proceed next month

INDIANAPOLIS - The execution of convicted killer Roy Lee Ward will proceed on Oct. 10.




Gov. Mike Braun announced Monday that he would follow the recommendation to allow him to be put to death.

"After carefully reviewing the unanimous recommendation from the State Parole Board, I have decided to allow the execution of Roy Lee Ward to proceed as planned for October 10," Braun said in a statement.




The parole board held a Sept. 22 clemency hearing for Ward. He was sentenced to death for the July 2001 rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne.

The parole board recommended that the execution proceed, citing the brutal nature of the crime. The victim's family advocated for having Ward put to death. According to previous reports, Ward pretended to be looking for a lost dog and convinced Payne to let him inside her family's home before raping and killing her.








Attorneys for Ward said he was remorseful for his actions. But Ward declined to be interviewed by the parole board; his attorneys said they were concerned his remorse would not be properly relayed due to language difficulties.




His attorneys also said Ward was erroneously labeled as psychotic and his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder was never presented. They filed numerous appeals questioning Indiana's execution method of lethal injection.




Had Braun granted clemency, Ward's sentence would have been reduced to life in prison.



via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/braun-denies-clemency-for-ward-execution-to-proceed-next-month/