News

Ohio Court Won’t Delay Execution of Condemned Killer of 2

By:
Posted on:

< < Back to

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected the request of a condemned killer to delay next week’s execution while he pursues an appeal.

Death row inmate Gary Otte wants the death penalty declared unconstitutional in his case because he was under 21 at the time of the crime.

The court denied Otte’s request for a delay Thursday.

Otte was sentenced to die for the Feb. 12, 1992, killing of Robert Wasikowski and the Feb. 13, 1992, killing of Sharon Kostura. Both slayings took place in Parma, in suburban Cleveland.

Republican Gov. John Kasich has rejected a request for clemency made by Otte’s attorneys.

The 45-year-old Otte is scheduled to die Sept. 13. He is also challenging Ohio’s lethal injection method in federal court.