Stay of execution issued for death row inmate

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued an order halting the planned execution of Missouri death row inmate, Russell Bucklew.

Attorney General Chris Koster said Tuesday night that the full U.S. Supreme Court will consider Bucklew’s pending requests for a stay of execution.

Missouri death row inmate Russell Bucklew filed a motion for a stay of execution, and that 60 day stay has been granted by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Court documents said Bucklew’s medical condition would cause him “unnecessary pain and suffering beyond the constitutionally permissible amount inherent in all executions.”

Bucklew’s condition allegedly causes frequent hemorrhaging through his face, blurred vision, among other symptoms.

The condition causes tumors consisting of malformed vessels which deprive healthy tissue of regular blood flow and necessary oxygen.

Another stay is now in place until Wednesday morning.

The state’s witnesses were told to be there at 10:30 tomorrow morning, but the execution might not happen then.

The state supreme court has until 11:59 Wednesday night to execute Bucklew.

Death row inmates Allen Nicklasson and Herbert Smulls went through similar situations as this, and were not executed until late the next night.