An unusual effort is underway in the United States to save the life of a mentally-ill death row inmate in Texas who is due to face execution on Wednesday evening.
Scott Panetti has been on death row since 1995 when he was convicted of murdering his ex-wife's parents.
Now, a group of conservative activists who say they usually support the death penalty are appealing for the execution to be halted.
Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.
IN: "How crazy….."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:15
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-fm4.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-ziz.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1202executionpkg-sm-generic.mp3
How crazy do you have to be, before you are ineligible to be executed in Texas?
That is the essential question swirling around the fate of Scott Panetti.
No one…not even the prosecutors who put him on death row - argue that he's sane.
A schizophrenic since he was a teenager, at his trial he a wore a purple cowboy suit, a ten gallon hat, and tried to call a variety of witnesses to testify in his defense including President John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II and Jesus Christ.
Scott Monroe was Panetti's court-appointed stand-by attorney…on stand-by because Panetti insisted on defending himself against murder charges carrying the death penalty.
AXX
But the question now is how mentally ill?
In 2002 the Supreme Court banned the execution of the mentally impaired, deeming it "cruel and unusual punishment", and therefore unconstitutional.
But, the Court has permitted the execution of mentally ill death row inmates, provided they have a "factual and rational understanding" of why they're being killed.
Panetti's lawyers say that he doesn't…and they're urging the Supreme Court to save his life.
So are a group of conservative activists in Texas who - unusually - are calling for clemency, saying Panetti's execution could undermine public support in the state's criminal justice system.
Watching…and waiting…Scott Panetti's father Jack.
AXX
The Texas Pardons Board voted 7 to nothing earlier this week to proceed with the execution.
It's due to take place at 6pm local time in Texas on Wednesday…..an execution even supporters of capital punishment say should be stopped.