A judge in Alabama has issued a stay of execution for David Lee Roberts, a convicted killer diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, while the state evaluates his competency to be executed. The ruling by Marion County Circuit Judge Talmage Lee Carter temporarily suspended the August 21 execution, pending an assessment of Roberts’ ability to understand the purpose and consequences of his death sentence. The judge emphasized the need to determine whether Roberts has a ‘rational understanding’ of the execution process and its link to his crime.
This decision aligns with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states cannot execute inmates who are insane and do not comprehend their impending death and the reasons for it. However, Alabama law does not provide a clear standard for evaluating competency in such cases, leaving the legal framework ambiguous for judges to rely on. The Alabama attorney general’s office has not appealed the stay, though the state has requested that the competency evaluation be expedited.
Roberts, 59, was originally scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas, a method Alabama adopted after the 2024 execution of Kenneth Smith. His attorneys argue that his diagnosis and symptoms, including delusions and hearing voices, render him incompetent to face execution. They cited his recent attempt to burn tattoos off his arms as evidence of believing they are controlling his thoughts, further supporting their claim that he lacks the rational understanding required for the state to proceed with the death penalty.
Prosecutors stated that Roberts murdered Annetra Jones in 1992 while staying at her boyfriend’s home. He stole money, packed his belongings, and shot Jones three times in the head before setting the house on fire. Despite the jury’s recommendation for life in prison without parole, a judge overruled that decision and imposed a death sentence. Alabama no longer allows judges to override jury recommendations in capital cases, adding another layer of complexity to this case. The stay of execution now raises questions about the legal standards for capital punishment and the rights of individuals with severe mental illnesses.