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AUDIO UPDATE Hartman Execution Delayed
3/31/2009 11:42:16 AM | Associated Press

A federal appeals court has delayed the April execution of an Ohio man who says he is innocent and needs more time to prove his case.

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The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati agreed Tuesday to grant a short reprieve to condemned killer Brett Hartman, scheduled to die April 7.

A three-judge panel of the court says a short delay is appropriate to determine whether Hartman could successfully pursue a broader federal case that he is innocent. Hartman was sentenced to die for the fatal stabbing and mutilation of his 46-year-old girlfriend Winda Snipes in Akron on
September 9, 1997.

"We're very happy to have time to continue working on the case," said Federal Public Defender David Stebbins.

LISTEN to David Stebbins explain

Stebbins says the reprieve is dependent to a case that's pending in the United States Supreme Court. That case is expected to be decided in June or July, according to Stebbins.

Hartman's sister, Diane Morretti, says 25 or so family members were surprised by the news when they visited him today. "During the visit was when they told Brett about the decision and he came in. Obviously when he broke down crying everybody else did."

LISTEN to Diane Morretti discuss reaction to reprieve

Moretti says it was a great relief and what the family has been praying for.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh says granting a temporary stay of execution isn't uncommon. "On behalf of the family members of the victim in this case, we feel bad about it because it's very difficult to see something drag out so long and not see a sentence carried out," Walsh explains.

She also feels the evidence against Hartman is "very solid," but can't "speculate" what will happen from this date forward.

On Monday, the Ohio Supreme Court turned down a request to hear arguments alleging that a jailhouse inmate lied - one piece of evidence that ultimately led to Hartman's conviction and death sentence. He had also asked the high court to order additional DNA testing and allow him to join a pending lawsuit that alleged Ohio's method of execution does not meet constitutional standards.

Additional information by Chris Keppler, Marcy Pappafava & Tina Kaufmann

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posted at 3/31/2009 12:02:18 PM (7320)
missfit said:

Well..this is a glimmer of hope for him.

posted at 3/31/2009 12:24:38 PM (7328)
Bart said:

This time if the evidence is conclusive I will shut my mouth and say God Bless him either way. I still don't and won't hold much respect for prosecuters in general because of cases like Clarence Elkins.

posted at 3/31/2009 12:29:34 PM (7330)
missfit said:

Oh I remember Clarence Elkins as well. he had to sneak a cigg butt from another inmate (who actually committed the murder and rape of his mother in law and niece) to prove his innoscence,
they almost didnt use it and he could have been executed! talk about a close call!

posted at 3/31/2009 1:08:03 PM (7336)
Cloverine said:

I completely agree with my on-line friends missfit and Bart. The Elkins case was a strong lesson for me.

posted at 3/31/2009 6:26:08 PM (7345)
just saying said:

It is much cheaper to keep someone in prison for life than to have endless appeals. Besides, if someone is guilty, I think a lifetime in prison to think about what they did and what they are missing in the outside world is a just punishment. Death is too good and too easy a way out of the hell they created for themselves. Just make sure they are never paroled

posted at 3/31/2009 7:13:50 PM (7348)
Bart said:

Death is still the best deterent for those that have not yet commited a crime.

posted at 4/1/2009 7:25:28 AM (7362)
WHOCARES said:

I think a better deterent to crime would be to either chain these people to a wall for the rest of their lives (instead of being able to watch tv and play basketball while in prison) or force them into chain gangs who pick up litter and do road repairs such as filling potholes. To some of these people, I don't think death is such a big deal. If it was, they wouldn't willingly live lives such as these.

posted at 4/1/2009 12:20:36 PM (7378)
Bart said:

Lots of thoughts on but no comment.

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