A federal judge in Louisiana has halted the state’s first death row execution using nitrogen gas, which was scheduled for next week. The inmate, Jessie Hoffman Jr., filed a lawsuit arguing that the method is cruel and unusual punishment and violates his religious beliefs. Louisiana officials plan to appeal the decision, as they aim to execute at least four individuals this year, following in the footsteps of Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas for executions.
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California teen ID’d as suspect in teacher’s 1978 fatal stabbing
A teenager named Harry Nickerson, suspected of fatally stabbing teacher Diane Peterson at Branham High School in San Jose, California, in 1978, was identified after a relative revealed a confession made shortly after the murder. Nickerson, who died by suicide in 1993, had previously been a suspect, with some witnesses claiming he implicated himself; however, DNA efforts to confirm his involvement were unsuccessful. A recent statement from a relative provided unique knowledge of the crime,...
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