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Home Kenny Richey Fears over health of death row Scot Fears over health of death row Scot
Tuesday, 01 August 2006
Several articles
Human rights campaigners have raised fears over the health of death row Briton Kenny Richey.
Amnesty International said the Scot, awaiting execution for more than 19 years in the United States, has undergone heart surgery.
The procedure was carried out on Friday after the 41-year-old, in prison in Ohio, complained of chest pains, according to the organisation.
RICHEY HAS OP AFTER JAIL COLLAPSE
DEATH Row Scot Kenny Richey has had heart surgery after suffering chest pains.
Human rights campaigners backing the 41-year-old's fight for life revealed yesterday he had a heart angioplasty on Friday.
The procedure involves a catheter-guided balloon b e i n g used t o open a narrowed coronary artery.
Edinburgh-born Richey was last night in a stable condition in hospital.
But Amnesty International say the uncertainty over his fate is contributing to his health problems.
His conviction for murdering a two-year-old girl by setting fire to her mother's apartment in Ohio was quashed by an appeal court last year.
But the US Supreme Court overturned that decision.
The 6th circuit court of appeal is expected to deliver a ruling on the case in the next few months.
If the court upholds the quashing of the conviction, the authorities will have to re-try Richey within 30 days or release him.
Amnesty International Scotland are now pressing for the ruling to be made as soon as possible.
Spokeswoman Rosemary Burnett said: "We are concerned that the uncertainty in which Kenny is being kept is contributing to his health problems.
"Keeping someone on Death Row for over 19 years is tantamount to mental torture."
Kenny Richey has heart operation
CAMERON SIMPSON August 01 2006
KENNY Richey, the Scot on death row in Ohio, has undergone heart surgery.
After more than 19 years awaiting execution, Richey had the operation after complaining of chest pains last Friday.
CAMERON SIMPSON August 01 2006
KENNY Richey, the Scot on death row in Ohio, has undergone heart surgery.
After more than 19 years awaiting execution, Richey had the operation after complaining of chest pains last Friday.
Last night Amnesty International Scotland raised its concerns for the health and well-being of Richey, who turns 42 on Thursday.
Rosemary Burnett, Amnesty International Scotland's programme director, said: "We are concerned that the uncertainty in which Kenny is being kept is contributing to his health problems. Keeping someone on death row for over 19 years is tantamount to mental torture."
Richey, who grew up in Edinburgh, has faced the death penalty in Ohio since being convicted of the murder of a two-year-old girl in a fire in 1987.
In January last year, an appeal court quashed his conviction, saying his trial was "seriously flawed". But in November the US Supreme Court threw that out and effectively sent him back to death row. Last month Richey's lawyers said a decision on the latest stage of his appeal process was likely to be made by the autumn.
Ms Burnett added: "Kenny has been living in legal limbo since his conviction was overturned in January last year.
"We urge the British government to continue to make representations to the US authorities on Kenny's case. And we hope that the current legal processes see him released soon."
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/66950-print.shtml