Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Who Killed Bank Guard Is Incompetent for Execution, Judge Says

OKLAHOMA CITY—An Oklahoma judge has ruled that a death row inmate is incompetent to be executed after the prisoner received mental evaluations by psychologists for both defense attorneys and state prosecutors. Pittsburg County District Judge Tim Mills wrote Thursday that both psychologists found that Wade Greely Lay, 63, lacks a “rational understanding” of why he is to be executed. “Given Mr. Lay’s present state of incompetence, the court finds that Mr. Lay may not be executed at this time,” Judge Mills wrote in an order signed by defense attorneys and state and local prosecutors. Under Oklahoma law, an inmate is mentally incompetent to be executed if they are unable to have a rational understanding of the reason they are being executed or that their execution is imminent....