Capital drama in Tennessee and Texas

The death penalty drama has been thick in both Tennessee and Texas this week.  Here’s the latest:

• From Tennessee, this article details that officials on Tennessee’s death row “are preparing for what could be the state’s second execution in 46 years — to happen shortly after midnight — while attorneys for the condemned man wait today for either a reprieve from the governor or a favorable appeals court ruling.”  As the article further explains, on Monday, defendant Sedley Alley “got a glimmer of hope: The state Board of Probation and Parole is recommending today to Gov. Phil Bredesen that he be given a reprieve so DNA testing can be done on … evidence from the murder scene.”

• From Texas, articles here and here discuss the surprising stay of execution granted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (basics here).  One story had this notable quote from the parents of the victim of the murderer whose execution has been delayed:

“We were all ready for this to happen,” fumed Adolph Peña, who had planned to witness the execution tonight in Huntsville with his wife, Melissa. “You talk about cruel? … We’ve been waiting 13 years for this son of a bitch to be executed.  It’s time for him to be executed.”