Execution on Hold for Atmore Inmate

Atmore Execution A stay of execution means new hope for a daughter trying to save her father.

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Thu, September 27, 2007 - 4:42 pm CST

Governor Bob Riley has issued a stay of execution for Thomas Arthur two days after the U.S. Supreme Court announced they would hear arguments about lethal injection. The court will decide if lethal injection violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Governor Riley's stay is a glimmer of hope for a daughter trying to save her dad.

Sherrie Stone was preparing to say her final goodbye to her dad at Holman prison in Atmore. "What we were gonna be witnessing today was a murder not an execution." Her dad, Thomas Arthur, was less than eight hours from being executed. Father and daughter were together when they heard the news. "I had this vision. I said you're gonna get a stay and he said oh honey, I'm glad you're so optimistic. Five minutes later the call came in and he came out and said you're not gonna believe it. I said you got the stay!"

Arthur was sentenced to die for a 1982 murder in North Alabama when Sherrie was just fifteen years old. "There's DNA evidence that can prove innocence there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be tested." As a grown-up, Sherrie believes her dad is not guilty and is willing to pay for the test to prove it. She's not the only one working on this case... her 65 year old father is trying from inside prison too. He sent letters to reporter Tiffany Craig. He asked for News 5 to help his fight. In one letter, he says, "I'm not some babbling fool and my case is going to be a big deal more sooner than later."

Interestingly enough, it is in a way due to timing. Governor Riley doesn't believe Arthur is innocent. He just says that his execution comes at the same time that the state is adjusting how it carries out lethal injections.

Now, the clock is ticking for everyone in this case. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court steps in, Thomas Arthur's next date to die is 45 days away.

We don't know if anything will change in Arthur's case but we know there will change for every inmate executed. Alabama is adjusting the way it carries out lethal injections to make sure the prisoner feels no pain before dying.

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