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A Florida inmate on death row, convicted of the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl and the killing of her grandmother, has formally requested that the U.S. Supreme Court intervene to postpone his execution.
Edward James, 63, was found guilty of the 1993 crimes involving Toni Neuner, aged eight, and her grandmother Betty Dick, aged 58, in Seminole County. James entered a guilty plea to multiple charges, including murder, child abuse, and kidnapping. Additionally, he pleaded no contest to other charges which he claims he cannot recall.
The lethal injection is slated for execution on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison located in Starke. This decision follows a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last month.
On September 19, 1993, Toni was attacked while staying at her grandmother’s home, where James had been renting a room. Court records detail a harrowing account of violence. James violently assaulted and strangled Toni before sexually assaulting her. He discarded her lifeless body across the room causing significant internal injuries.
Afterward, James moved to Betty Dick’s bedroom with the intent to assault her. Instead, he brutally stabbed her over twenty times using two different knives, resulting in a horrific murder.
Wendi, Toni’s older sister, witnessed the crimes unfold. James subsequently bound Wendi and locked her in the bathroom, while Toni’s two younger brothers were asleep in the house during these tragic events.
The Florida Supreme Court, along with a federal appeals court, have both denied requests to delay James’ execution.
James’ legal representative has raised concerns regarding his mental state, citing cognitive decline as a significant issue. They argue that proceeding with the execution would contravene the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, as reported by WUSF.
“The complexities of this case demand a thorough appellate review, rather than a rushed decision driven by the urgency of an imminent execution,” stated James’ attorney, Dawn Macready.
If executed, James’ case would mark Florida’s second execution of the year. Just last month, James Dennis Ford faced execution for the 1997 murders of a couple in Charlotte County. In another upcoming case, Michael Tanzi, aged 48, is scheduled for execution on April 8 for the 2000 kidnapping and murder of a woman in Miami.
The momentum surrounding James’ impending execution raises crucial questions about the state’s capital punishment system, particularly regarding mental health considerations in death penalty cases.
As legal battles continue to unfold, the attention of advocates and the public remains focused on the implications of this case for justice and the controversial topic of the death penalty.
This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.
