The Latest: Alabama inmate's execution off for night
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Latest on the execution of Alabama inmate Vernon Madison (all times local):
8:15 p.m.
The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed the execution of an Alabama inmate with dementia who lawyers say can't remember slaying a police officer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The decision came about two hours after 67-year-old Vernon Madison had been scheduled to be executed by lethal injection for the 1985 killing. Alabama prison system spokesman Bob Horton says the Alabama attorney general's office told him the execution will not go forward Thursday evening because of the stay.
Attorneys had argued that stroke-induced dementia had left Madison unable to remember killing the officer or understand his looming execution.
Madison was sentenced to death for killing Mobile Police Officer Julius Schulte. Schulte had responded to a domestic disturbance call involving Madison. Prosecutors have said that Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car.
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5:45 p.m.
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily delayed the execution of an Alabama inmate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vernon Madison is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. CST Thursday for the 1985 killing of Mobile police Officer Julius Schulte.
The court issued a temporary stay Thursday night to consider Madison's request to stop his execution. The stay came about 30 minutes before Madison was scheduled to receive a lethal injection. Justices will decide whether to let the execution go forward later Thursday.
Madison's lawyers say strokes and dementia have left Madison unable to understand his looming execution. They argued the court should stop the planned injection to review whether executing someone in such a mental condition violates evolving standards of decency and a ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They also argue that a judge shouldn't have sentenced Madison to death when jurors recommended life imprisonment.
The state has asked the court to let the execution proceed Thursday.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}5 p.m.
Family members will not witness the execution of a 67-year-old Alabama inmate convicted in the 1985 slaying of a police officer.
Vernon Madison is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. CST Thursday by lethal injection for the killing of Mobile police Officer Julius Schulte.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alabama prison system spokesman Bob Horton said Schulte's family has chosen not to witness the execution. Madison's family will not witness either.
Prosecutors said Madison shot Schulte in the back of the head after he responded to a call from Madison's girlfriend.
Madison's attorneys say he no longer remembers killing the officer because of stroke-induced dementia.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Defense lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution. The state is opposing the request.
Horton said Madison requested two oranges for his final meal.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}10:55 p.m.
Alabama is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to let it proceed with this week's scheduled execution of a 67-year-old inmate whose lawyers say can no longer remember his crime.
The Alabama attorney general's office told justices in a filing Monday that the state's high court last year ruled the execution could proceed and should do so again.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Vernon Madison is scheduled to be put to death Thursday by lethal injection for the 1985 killing of Mobile Police Officer Julius Schulte.
Madison's lawyers say strokes and dementia have left Madison unable to understand his looming execution. They argued the court should delay the planned injection to review whether executing someone in such a mental condition violates evolving standards of decency and a ban on cruel and unusual punishment.