Condemned DeSoto Parish man escapes the henchman. Again.
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: February 7, 2013
A federal judge has canceled next week's Ash Wednesday execution planned for a DeSoto Parish man for the beating and scalding death of his 6-year-old stepson, according to our sister station WDSU-TV.
U.S. District Judge James Brady ruled Thursday that state corrections officials have given Christopher Sepulvado too little information about the drug that will be used in the lethal injection and the methods involved in carrying out the execution.
Brady says without that information, lawyers for Sepulvado cannot protect his constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment.
Until this week, the Department of Corrections hadn't confirmed it switched from a three-chemical lethal injection process to a one-drug execution method. The department gave the name of the drug it plans to use, but offered no further details to Sepulvado's lawyers.
On Wednesday, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said he would lead a prayer service on Thursday for the repeal of the execution of Sepulvado and an end to Louisiana's death penalty.
The public prayer service is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Notre Dame Seminary Chapel, 2901 S. Carrollton Ave. in Baton Rouge.
Tuesday, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he wouldn't halt the Ash Wednesday execution of the DeSoto Parish man, but a judge ruled differently on Thursday.
No new execution date was immediately set.
