By Liz Evans Scolforo
York Dispatch
YORK, Pa. — On Thursday morning, with just a few hours until his scheduled execution, the clock was winding down for death-row inmate Hubert Lester Michael Jr.
His attorneys have filed two last-minute appeals with the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which were still pending as of 9:30 a.m. York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said they appear to be Michael’s last chance to avoid being put to death for the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Trista Eng of the Dillsburg area.
Shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, the state Board of Pardons unanimously denied Michael’s request for clemency, Kearney said. “There is a possibility (the defense) can file a petition for reconsideration, which would be heard (Thursday) at 3 p.m.,” he said. “So we’ll see.”
Kearney said the time has come to execute Michael. “It’s long overdue,” he said. “It’s been 20 years. If a sentence is to mean anything, then it must be carried out. If it’s the will of the community, we need to follow through, or else it’s meaningless.”
Full story: Clock is winding down for death-row inmate Hubert Michael Jr.