PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- Gov. Robert F. McDonnell on Friday declined to intervene in next week's scheduled execution of Paul Warner Powell.
Powell, 31, killed 16-year-old Stacie Reed inside of her Yorkshire home in 1999, and raped and tried to kill Stacie's younger sister.
“After conferring with the appropriate parties, as well as thoroughly reviewing the clemency petition and the judicial opinions regarding this case, I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was selected by the jury and imposed and affirmed by the courts. Accordingly, I decline to intervene,” McDonnell said in a statement late Friday afternoon.
Powell's is the first execution case to come before the new governor. Earlier this week, the condemned man's attorneys asked that McDonnell let someone else decide whether the execution should take place, saying the governor's court pleadings as attorney general hindered their case.
McDonnell's decision is the final step in Powell’s appeal process.
The inmate has been close to the death chamber before. Last July, one day before he was set to die in the electric chair, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider hearing Powell’s appeal and delayed his execution.
Justices later decided not to consider the case, and it fell back to state officials who quickly set the March 18 execution date.
Stacie Reed's mother, Lorraine Whoberry, and sister Kristie Reed will witness his execution in the electric chair, the method Powell chose.
Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert will be at their side.
"It's good news we've had from the governor today," he said Friday.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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