Low IQs and Executions
I'm curious what the law is for each state that has the death penalty with regard to low IQs. I guess in North Carolina, if you have an IQ of 70 or lower you won't be executed. It's interesting that each state is so different when it comes to laws like that.
A Duplin County man sentenced to death 19 years ago has had the sentence vacated by a judge who determined that he is mentally retarded.
Testimony at a hearing in Duplin County last month showed that Holden has an IQ below 70. That's the threshold set under a state law passed in 2001 that prohibits the execution of the mentally retarded.
Holden is the tenth mentally retarded prisoner removed from death row since the law passed.
Posted by katherine at 08:35 PM
