Georgia executes death row inmate Willie Pye for the 1993 murder of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough
The state of Georgia has executed Willie Pye, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough in 1993.
On Wednesday, the state of Georgia executed death row inmate Willie Pye for the 1993 murder of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. This marks Georgia’s first execution in over four years and was carried out by lethal injection at 11:03 p.m. at a prison in Jackson. Pye, who was 59, did not make a final statement before his execution. His final appeals were denied by the US Supreme Court late Wednesday.
Pye and his attorneys had argued for his life to be spared in a clemency petition and various court filings, citing an intellectual disability, a troubled upbringing, and ineffective assistance of counsel. Despite the halt in executions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Pye's execution proceeded, leading to a flurry of last-minute appeals, including two filed with the US Supreme Court that were ultimately denied.
Pye was convicted in 1996 of various charges related to Yarbrough's murder, and the execution was preceded by a series of legal challenges, including arguments about a pandemic-era agreement and Pye's intellectual disability. Despite these appeals, the Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for declining to halt Pye’s execution.
Pye's clemency petition highlighted the ineffective assistance of his trial attorney, who was responsible for numerous felony cases at the same time and effectively abandoned his post. Despite the legal challenges, the state parole board denied clemency after thoroughly considering the case.
Pye's conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal in state and federal court, with some legal challenges and rulings in the years leading up to his execution.
Pye and his attorneys had argued for his life to be spared in a clemency petition and various court filings, citing an intellectual disability, a troubled upbringing, and ineffective assistance of counsel. Despite the halt in executions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Pye's execution proceeded, leading to a flurry of last-minute appeals, including two filed with the US Supreme Court that were ultimately denied.
Pye was convicted in 1996 of various charges related to Yarbrough's murder, and the execution was preceded by a series of legal challenges, including arguments about a pandemic-era agreement and Pye's intellectual disability. Despite these appeals, the Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for declining to halt Pye’s execution.
Pye's clemency petition highlighted the ineffective assistance of his trial attorney, who was responsible for numerous felony cases at the same time and effectively abandoned his post. Despite the legal challenges, the state parole board denied clemency after thoroughly considering the case.
Pye's conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal in state and federal court, with some legal challenges and rulings in the years leading up to his execution.