Arizona death row prisoner’s clemency bid rejected by board

By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s clemency board has declined to recommend the governor commute a man’s death sentence to life in prison, keeping the inmate’s planned execution on track for his conviction in two 1980 killings. Thursday’s decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency’s marks one of the last steps before Murray Hooper is to receive a lethal injection Nov. 16 for the killings of William Redmond and Helen Phelps. Board members rejected Hooper’s claim of innocence. Authorities say Redmond and his mother-in-law were killed after Hooper and two other men forced their way into Redmond’s home. Redmond’s wife was shot in the head but survived and testified against Hooper.