By C1 Staff
PIERRE, S.D. — An inmate currently on death row for killing a correctional officer has been granted a stay of execution pending another appeal.
The Capital-Journal reports that State Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the stay of Rodney Berget’s execution around 6 p.m. Thursday.
The stay was granted due to a filing of a habeas petition, a final stage appeal that can address a range of possible constitutional issues.
Berget was convicted of beating to death Ron Johnson, a senior correctional officer in the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls in April 2011 during a failed escape attempt.
His conspirator in the attempt, Eric Robert, was executed in October 2012.
Berget had been serving an 80-year sentence for attempted murder and kidnapping.