U.S. court halts execution of Texas man who killed his daughters
Source: Reuters
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court halted the execution planned for Wednesday of a Texas a man who killed his two daughters at his Dallas apartment while the girls' mother listened on the phone, hearing the gunshots and her children's screams.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said a counsel for death row inmate, John Battaglia, 60, had abandoned him for part of his appeal process and the offender should have his execution halted as a result.
The move came hours before Battaglia was set to receive a lethal injection at the state's death chamber in Huntsville.
Battaglia's lawyers also launched last-minute appeals on other grounds, arguing he should be spared because he suffers from bipolar disorder, which was not properly considered in sentencing.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-execute-man-murdered-two-daughters-110344507.html