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Aaron Brian Gunches, an Arizona death row inmate, has requested that the state Supreme Court expedite his execution. Gunches, who pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend’s ex-husband in 2002, has been on death row since his conviction.
Gunches, representing himself, filed a handwritten request urging the court to schedule his execution for mid-February. He claims his execution is overdue and that the state is delaying the process unnecessarily.
Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office, responsible for pursuing Gunches’ execution, argues that a briefing schedule is crucial to ensure proper execution procedures. This includes testing the pentobarbital used in lethal injections.
Gunches previously requested his execution in 2022, citing justice and closure for the victim’s family. However, his execution was postponed due to the state’s lack of trained personnel. Governor Katie Hobbs ordered a review of the death penalty process, which concluded in November without any resolution.
Arizona has 111 inmates on death row, with the last three executions carried out in 2022. The state has faced criticism for delays and difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs.