Virginia set to execute first woman in nearly a century

[Better Believe It]

Virginia set to execute first woman in nearly a century
Teresa Lewis will die by lethal injection on Thursday unless an appeal to the supreme court can save her.
by Chris McGreal in Washington
September 19, 2010


The state of Virginia this week plans to carry out its first execution of a woman in nearly a century, despite claims that Teresa Lewis has severe learning difficulties.

Lewis's last hope is an appeal to the US supreme court after Robert McDonnell, the state governor, said he will not spare the life of the 41-year-old who was convicted of arranging for two men to murder her husband and stepson. She is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday.

The men who carried out the killings – one of whom was Lewis's lover – received life sentences.

Lewis's last hope of avoiding the death chamber is an appeal before the supreme court. Her lawyers will argue that because she has such a low IQ her execution would be unconstitutional.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/19/virginia-execute-first-woman-century