Judge stays execution of Oklahoma death row inmate

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Pittsburg County judge Wednesday stayed Thursday's scheduled execution of convicted killer Garry Thomas Allen.<br/><br/>District Judge Thomas Bartheld of McAlester ordered the

Wednesday, May 18th 2005, 5:15 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Pittsburg County judge Wednesday stayed Thursday's scheduled execution of convicted killer Garry Thomas Allen.

District Judge Thomas Bartheld of McAlester ordered the stay and ordered authorities to convene a hearing to determine whether Allen is insane.

A recent medical evaluation of Allen at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary revealed evidence that Allen has become insane while confined on death row.

Federal courts have ruled that inmates who are mentally incompetent can not be executed. A 12-member jury may be convened to decide Allen's sanity.

The 49-year-old Allen was sentenced to die for the 1986 shooting death of Lawanna Gail Titsworth outside an Oklahoma City day care center.