The attorney for a Florida death row inmate scheduled to be executed later this month is making a final plea to the state Supreme Court, highlighting the inmate’s troubled past and alleged cognitive decline as reasons to halt the execution.
Edward James, 63, is scheduled to be executed on March 20th for the 1993 murders of a Seminole County woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter. His attorney, Dawn Macready, filed a 66-page brief on Wednesday, detailing James’ history of drug and alcohol abuse, head injuries, and a recent heart attack as contributing factors to his declining cognitive abilities.
READ: Florida Death Row Inmate’s Attorney Seeks To Halt Execution, Citing Constitutional Violations
Macready argues that executing James in his current mental state would constitute cruel and unusual punishment, violating his constitutional rights.
The brief paints a grim picture of James’ life, starting with his early exposure to drugs and alcohol by his father. It describes heavy substance abuse throughout his life, including around the time of the murders.
In addition to substance abuse, the brief highlights numerous head injuries James sustained in car accidents and fights, which may have contributed to traumatic brain injury. It also points to a heart attack James suffered in 2023, which deprived his brain of oxygen and may have further exacerbated his cognitive decline.
Macready argues that the results of a CT scan taken after James’ heart attack should be considered as new evidence supporting the argument to halt his execution. She contends that his cognitive decline has rendered him incompetent to be executed.
READ: Florida Executes Inmate James Ford For 1997 Sod Farm Double Murders
However, Circuit Judge Melanie Chase, who previously denied a request to block the execution, ruled that James’ cognitive issues were known long before the heart attack and that his legal claim was untimely..
James was convicted of murdering Betty Dick and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Toni Neuner, in 1993. He rented a room from Dick and committed the murders after a night of drinking and drug use.
The Florida Supreme Court will now consider James’ appeal and determine whether to grant a stay of execution. This case raises complex questions about the constitutionality of executing individuals with cognitive impairments and the impact of a troubled past on legal proceedings.
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