US execution in Alabama despite mental health concerns

A prisoner has been executed by the US State of Alabama even though he presented symptoms of mental illness. Executions of mentally ill people have been outlawed by the US Supreme Court as they are deemed to be unconstitutional. The 1986 US Supreme Court ruling Ford v Wainwright protects the severally mentally ill from execution; however, it is for each state to determine the severity of the illness.

Christopher Johnson was administered a lethal injection in Alabama. The Equal Justice Initiative highlighted that Johnson had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals during the course of his childhood and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication.

He represented himself during his trial for the killing of his six-month old son in 2004. After a verdict had been reached and the sentence was handed down, Johnson requested no additional appeals and refused any proposals of legal advice. According to academic research, in approximately 80% of cases of this nature, so-called "volunteer" cases, the accused usually shows signs of mental illness.

Esther Brown of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty commented "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Christopher Johnson's family members, who are also the murder victim's family."

Click here to view a piece by Amnesty.

Click here to view a piece by the Guardian.

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