James Earl Reed was executed via the electric chair in South Carolina on June 20, 2008.
Reed was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents in 1996. Reed represented himself during his trial, arguing, in spite of a previous confession, that there was no physical evidence to place him at the scene of the murders.The Associated Press: SC executes James Earl Reed by electrocution (June 21, 2008)
Last Minute Stay Request
A separate Supreme Court ruling on June 19, 2008, found that the state can refuse a defendant's right to represent himself if he is deemed mentally unfit.CNN: Convicted killer executed after last-minute legal wrangle fails (June 21, 2008)
This ruling prompted U.S. District Court Judge Henry Floyd to file a motion for a stay of execution, pending further review of Reed's case. The motion was filed just minutes before the execution was scheduled to take place.CNN: Convicted killer executed after last-minute legal wrangle fails (June 21, 2008)
The Supreme Court denied the motion for a stay and the execution took place as scheduled.
