The third time was not a charm for death row inmate Dennis Skillicorn.
The Missouri Supreme Court this morning denied a motion seeking to delay Skillicorn’s execution. Skillicorn is scheduled to be put to death on May 20 for his part in the August 1994 murder of Richard Drummond in Lafayette County.
It is the third time the Supreme Court has denied such a motion since the execution was set last month.
However, Skillicorn is still pursuing a federal lawsuit that could potentially halt the execution. He claims that Gov. Jay Nixon can’t fairly consider his clemency plea because he prosecuted Skillicorn as attorney general and defended state agencies that obstructed Skillicorn’s efforts to interview prison inmates and staff.
On Friday, Skillicorn requested a preliminary injunction from the federal court in Kansas City. The court has not ruled on the request.
Skillicorn is represented by Jennifer A. Merrigan, of the Public Interest Litigation Clinic in Kansas City, and John W. Simon, of Constitutional Advocacy in St. Louis.
May 11, 2009 10:22 am
Missouri Supreme Court