RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Council of Churches and two Democratic lawmakers are urging Gov. Terry McAuliffe to halt the execution of an inmate convicted of hiring a man to kill his ex-girlfriend.
The Virginia Council of Churches is delivering a letter to McAuliffe Monday asking him to spare 38-year-old Ivan Teleguz’s life. Del. Marcus Simon and Del. Patrick Hope have also sent a letter to McAuliffe urging him to grant Teleguz clemency.
Teleguz is scheduled to be executed on April 25. He was convicted in 2006 of hiring a man to kill Stephanie Sipe in Harrisonburg.
Teleguz’s attorneys filed a clemency petition on Friday. Teleguz maintains his innocence, and since his trial, two key prosecution witnesses have recanted.
A spokesman for McAuliffe said Teleguz’s clemency petition is under review.
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