Timothy Keel Will Be Murdered By Nc At 2am Tomorrow Morning 11-7-03

[KRIS_NC]

THEY MUST HAVE NO HEART OR CONSCIENCE TO KILL A PERSON ESPECIALLY ONE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION...GOD BE WITH YOU TIMOTHY
Thursday, November 6, 2003 9:20PM EST

North Carolina prepares to execute fifth inmate this year


By ESTES THOMPSON, , Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The fifth inmate scheduled for execution in North Carolina this year awaited his fate Thursday in a cell across the hallway from the death chamber.
Joseph Timothy Keel, 39, was scheduled to be executed at 2 a.m. Friday at Central Prison for the slaying of his father-in-law, Johnny Simmons, on July 10, 1990.
His final chance to stave off execution evaporated when Gov. Mike Easley denied a petition to change the death sentence to life in prison. The U.S. Supreme Court and two state appeals courts had earlier blocked efforts to stop Keel's execution.

Prison officials moved Keel from the death row area of the prison to a death watch cell Wednesday afternoon. He was allowed visits in person for the first time Thursday with relatives and attorneys. Before, he had to talk to them through a metal grate in visitation cubicles and look at them through thick glass and steel bars.

State Correction Department spokesman Keith Acree said the prison warden reported that Keel appeared to be in good spirits.

Prosecutors say Keel is a vicious killer who also killed his infant son in 1986 and should be executed. The defense doesn't dispute the crime, but contends that Keel was mentally retarded.

Efforts by defense lawyer Jay Ferguson, who raised at least three legal issues this week, were set back Thursday.

Ferguson wanted time to seek a court ruling on a lower-court judge's dismissal of an appeal this week. Keel's lawyers had asked that the case be reopened on grounds that an extra juror may have deliberated in a case that led to the death sentence. The juror testified in Edgecombe County Superior Court, however, that he was an alternate and never took part in regular jury deliberations.

In one filing, his lawyers challenged the state's indictment forms, which have been upheld by the state Supreme Court as legal even though they don't have to list reasons for a death sentence.

Keel also contends in the federal court that he shouldn't be executed because he's mentally retarded, which state law prohibits. He said earlier lawyers missed a filing deadline to raise the issue by three months.

Ferguson said Keel has the mental ability of a fifth grader and suffered mental illness from an early age because his uncles plied him with alcohol. The defense also said Keel has brain injury suffered at birth as well as a brain injury when he was hit by a steel beam.

Ferguson said an expert pegged his IQ at 70, the level below which the law defines as retarded. But prosecutors argue that Keel's IQ is 87 and that he has shown no mental problems in prison, where he earned a GED certificate and took religion courses.

Four members of the victim's family said they would witness the execution, along with two police officers and three news reporters. It wasn't known whether members of Keel's family would watch.

Opponents of the death penalty held a rally at North Carolina Central University against the state's increase in executions. Vigils for Keel were scheduled by death penalty opponents Thursday night in Asheville, Belmont, Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Mars Hill, Raleigh and Wilmington.

Keel's is the fifth execution scheduled this year. Two more are scheduled - one next week for John Dennis Daniels and one in December for Robbie James Lyons - for a total of seven this year, which would be the most in North Carolina since 1949.

Death penalty opponents say the state lags behind only Texas and Oklahoma in the pace of executions this year across the United States. Texas has executed 21 inmates and has four scheduled in December. Oklahoma has executed 14 inmates.

[KRIS_NC]

it was just on the news that gov.easley denied timothy keel a stay he will be murdered at 2 am please lets all say a prayer

[louise1120]

He will be in my thoughts and prayers

[KRIS_NC]

THANK YOU LOUISE

[chuloswife]

I will pray for him and your family. I personaly dont believe in the death penality. If I dont have the right to take someones life who give them the right to take mines?!. Anyways he'll be in my prayers!!

[valeriemalone]

I hate hearing about the executions, as does everyone. I will say a prayer for him.

[sutherngurl85]

Kris,
Timothy is in my prayers as well as his family and friends. I think it is unfair to take a life. What does that accomplish? I live in SC and I literally cried when I read the article you posted. Thank you for expressing your thoughts and concerns. Again I will be praying for him.
Viempre Con Respecto,
Trista

[Kyla]

Kris
I am so sorry that it came to this. North Carolina has blood all over there hands once again tonight. This wasnt justice, this is a tragedy.
I am speechless and upset, and I pray that he has gone to a better place where there is happiness and no suffering or judging.
Im thinking of you Kris, and hope you are ok..... try and stay strong Terrence needs you.

[QQin4meboo]

i am never too late for a prayer , but i may be too late for this 8* Murder ** !!

[KRIS_NC]

THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND KYLA I TRY TO STAY STRONG IT IS JUST SO HARD SOMETIMES I THINK WHAT IF, MY BABY IS INNOCENT BUT THIS STATE DOESNT WANNA SEE IT I REALLY NEED TO GET HIM HOME

[LUVFRNKH]

The real sad thing is that those men that administer the injection that kills him will just go home and go to bed like nothing happened. Why can't they see, the concept is not that hard..........killing at the hands of the state is just political murder. Today I am ashamed to be a resident of this state.

Terri

[KRIS_NC]

I AM DEFINITELY FEELING THE SAME WAY TERRI CAN I BE FROM SOME OTHER STATE FOR A WHILE