ST. LOUIS (KCTV) — For greater than a decade, Kevin Johnson has sat on loss of life row for killing Kirkwood Police Sgt. William McEntee.
Johnson is dealing with execution by deadly injection for the July 2005 killing.
On Friday, a federal court docket choose denied Johnson’s 19-year-old daughter Khorry Ramey’s request to observe the execution.
Below present Missouri legislation, you have to be 21 years outdated to witness an execution.
Ramey had Michelle Smith with Missourians for Options to the Demise Penalty learn an announcement for her, claiming this determination will trigger her an immense quantity of ache.
“It's excruciating to know that I'm about to lose my dad over again when the state of Missouri kills him,” Smith learn. “But I can't be current for his loss of life merely due to my age.”
Johnson’s lawyer, Shawn Nolan, was additionally pushing for Ramey to have the ability to attend.
“It’s ironic that Kevin was 19 years outdated when he dedicated this crime, and they're nonetheless making an attempt to maneuver ahead together with his execution, although they received’t enable his daughter, who is nineteen, [witness the execution] as a result of she’s too younger,” Nolan says.
Within the assertion Smith learn for Ramey, Ramey says not solely did she need to be there as a witness, nevertheless it was additionally what her dad wished.
“I'm my dad’s closest dwelling relative, and he's mine, aside from my child son,” Smith reads. “If my dad was dying in a hospital, I might sit by his facet, holding his hand and praying for him till his loss of life. Each as a supply of assist for him and for me as a essential a part of my grieving course of and for my piece of thoughts.”
Many individuals are asking Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency.
“I used to be shocked by his remarks,” Nolan says. “I might say the governor must be extra involved about racism within the court docket system in Missouri. We’re hopeful that possibly he’ll take a second have a look at it and assessment all the data that we put forth within the clemency petition.”
Earlier this week, Parson advised Information 4 that so far as his workplace is anxious, the execution will proceed as deliberate.
“You bought a man who went over there, cold-blooded killed a police officer by two pictures within the head after he shot him a number of instances,” Parson mentioned. “It’s a reasonably vicious crime. Typically it's a must to reply the results to that.”
Johnson’s execution is about for Tuesday, Nov. 29.
On Monday, the Missouri Supreme Courtroom will hear arguments on a request for keep of execution, which might imply delaying the execution from transferring ahead on Tuesday.