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Andre Cole, 52, is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m.
(CDT) Tuesday. His attorneys have argued that Cole's death
sentence was unfair because he is an African-American and he was
condemned to death by an all-white jury. They also have argued
that he suffers from psychosis, including having hallucinations
that compromised his ability to understand why he is facing
execution.
As well, Cole is one of several Missouri death row inmates who
have alleged the state's lethal injection protocol violates a
constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Cole was divorced from his wife, Terri, in 1995. He fell $3,000
behind in child support for the couple's two children and his
wages were ordered garnished, according to court records.
After the first garnishment in August 1998, Cole broke into his
ex-wife's home and stabbed her and a male friend repeatedly. The
ex-wife survived but her friend did not. Cole was convicted of
first-degree murder and first-degree assault as well as armed
criminal action and first-degree burglary, court records state.
State officials have argued in court documents that there is no
valid reason to delay Cole's execution.
(Reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City; editing by Andrew
Hay)
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