Additional Coverage:
- Indiana prepares for its first execution in 15 years in process scrutinized for its secrecy (nbcnews.com)
Indiana to Execute Inmate Despite Mental Illness Claims
Indiana is preparing to execute Joseph Corcoran on Wednesday for the 1997 murders of four men, including his brother. However, the execution will be carried out behind closed doors, as state law prohibits media witnesses.
Corcoran’s attorneys claim he is mentally ill and incompetent to be executed. His condition, they say, has prevented him from seeking proper relief. They have appealed to federal courts, including the Supreme Court, to halt the execution.
Anti-death penalty groups have protested the execution and urged Governor Holcomb to grant clemency. They argue that taking Corcoran’s life in secret, especially during the Christmas season, is cruel and unjust.
Holcomb has not yet commented on the case, but he has previously expressed support for the death penalty. Indiana is one of only two states that exclude media witnesses from executions.
In recent years, several states have had trouble obtaining lethal injection drugs, leading to pauses in executions. However, Utah and South Carolina have recently resumed executions.
Despite opposition, Indiana remains determined to carry out Corcoran’s sentence, despite his mental health condition. Seven other inmates remain on death row in the state, and a bill has been filed to repeal the death penalty.