Gov. Nixon halts man’s execution set Tuesday

Governor Jay Nixon says he has commuted the death sentence of Kimber Edwards.

Edwards will now spend life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Kimberly Cantrell.

This is a statement issues by Governor Nixon today:

“After a thorough review of the facts surrounding the murder of Kimberly Cantrell, I am convinced the evidence supports the jury’s decision to convict Kimber Edwards of first-degree murder. At the same time, however, I am using my authority under the Missouri Constitution to commute Edwards’ sentence to life without the possibility of parole. This is a step not taken lightly, and only after significant consideration of the totality of the circumstances. With this decision, Kimber Edwards will remain in prison for the remainder of his life for this murder.”

Kimber Edwards had been scheduled to die Tuesday for the contract killing of his ex-wife, Kimberly Cantrell, in suburban St. Louis in 2000.

Nixon said in a statement that he remains convinced that evidence supports the first-degree murder conviction. He did not say why he commuted the sentence to life in prison without parole.

Edwards’ attorney and others have claimed that Edwards falsely confessed to the crime. The man who shot Cantrell said in an affidavit earlier this year that he lied when he told authorities that Edwards hired him to kill Cantrell.

Police said Edwards wanted Cantrell dead to get out of child support payments.