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Penn. Judge Stays Execution of Prisoner Who Killed Sexual Abuser

HeadlineOct 01, 2012

A Pennsylvania judge has granted a stay of execution to a death row prisoner convicted of murdering his sexual abuser. Terrance “Terry” Williams was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for the 1984 murder of Amos Norwood. Norwood had sexually abused Williams over a number of years up until the night before Williams took revenge by ending Norwood’s life. But on Friday, a state court halted the execution and ordered a new sentencing hearing over evidence prosecutors had withheld evidence of Norwood’s molestation of Williams and other minors. Williams was convicted based on the prosecution’s contention that he had been trying to rob Norwood before the murder, not seeking revenge for sexual abuse. Pennsylvania prosecutors say they plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

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