Ohio Gov grants reprieve for more DNA testing

As detailed in this Columbus Dispatch article, an Ohio death row defendant, whom many believe may be innocent, has received yet another reprieve to allow additional DNA testing:

Gov. Ted Strickland today granted another reprieve for convicted killer John G. Spirko Jr., pushing his execution date until Sept. 18.  It was the sixth reprieve granted to Spirko to allow time for additional DNA testing related to the 1982 kidnapping and murder of Betty Jane Mottinger, 48, postmaster at Elgin in northwest Ohio.

Attorney General Marc Dann asked Strickland to delay the execution which had been set for April 17.  Spirko, 60, was originally set for lethal injection on Sept. 19, 2005, but his defense attorneys repeatedly requested additional DNA testing.  They claim he is an innocent man convicted based solely on circumstantial and misleading evidence.

Ohio Death Penalty Information has a lot more on this case (and other interesting new posts).