Mental retarded banned execution bill vetoed

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating has vetoed a bill that would have banned executions of mentally retarded defendants. <br><br>The measure would have prohibited the state from executing defendants

Saturday, June 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating has vetoed a bill that would have banned executions of mentally retarded defendants.

The measure would have prohibited the state from executing defendants with an I-Q of 70 or below who are classified as developmentally disabled.

Eighteen other states already have a similar law.

Keating says the bill isn't needed because existing state law already protects defendants who lack the mental capacity to understand the consequences of their acts.