Gov. John Kasich鈥檚 parole board is recommending that he call off next month鈥檚 execution of an inmate convicted of killing a woman in a robbery in Toledo in 1986. The board came to their decision based on the questionable actions of the prosecution.
In a split vote of 6-4, the state parole board is that 52- year old William Montgomery鈥檚 death sentence be changed to life without parole for the murder of Debra Ogle. He鈥檚 also serving a life sentence for the murder of her roommate Cynthia Tincher.
Montgomery鈥檚 attorneys argued that important evidence was kept from the jury in the original trial.
Kevin Werner with Ohioans to Stop Executions says the role of a juror is already a weighty responsibility.
鈥淏ut what compounds that is when you don鈥檛 play by the rules when you don鈥檛 turn over all the evidence that you鈥檙e supposed to then the foundation of the conviction is weakened,鈥� said Werner.
The board members who voted against clemency said the withheld evidence did not qualify as clearly unjust. Those who voted for mercy noted that two jurors said they didn鈥檛 understand the law and there were concerns about the stability of a third.
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