death penalty news October 7, 2004
NORTH CAROLINA: U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Clears Way For Perkins' Execution The U.S. Supreme Court, in two rulings Thursday, cleared the way for the execution of Sammy Crystal Perkins, who was sentenced to death in 1993 for the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl. Perkins' attorneys had asked the court to leave a federal judge's stay in effect so Perkins, 51, could contest the state of North Carolina's method of execution by injection. That request was denied on a 5-4 vote. The prisoner's attorneys also asked the court to reverse state court rulings against Perkins on the issue of whether there was illegal jury deliberation and the use of improper hearsay evidence during his trial in Pitt County Superior Court. The high court ruled unanimously against Perkins on those issues. (source: AP)
