DENTON -- A state district judge said a man convicted of killing a 17-year-old Denton girl may be executed.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed James Lee Clark's execution in November 2002 days before he was scheduled to die. They wanted a judge to review claims by Clark's attorneys that he is mentally retarded. A Supreme Court ruling bars the execution of mentally retarded inmates.
District Judge Lee Gabriel ruled Thursday if Clark is mildly retarded, he is not so impaired that he can be exempted from the death penalty.
Clark faces lethal injection in Huntsville for the 1993 rape, robbery and murder of Catherine Crews. Her 16-year-old companion Jesus Gilberto Garza also was killed.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press, All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
