Georgia set to execute its oldest death row inmate

In their clemency petition, they noted that Jones has aged considerably in the years that have passed since Father’s Day morning in 1979, the day Tackett, the manager of a Cobb County convenience store and gas station, was shot to death around 1:45 a.m. At the time of his conviction, a death sentence for a murder committed during a robbery at a business was rare, and it has become even more unusual recently, with none imposed in any such case in Georgia in the past 20 years, Jones’ lawyers argue in their filing with the state’s Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, as the Parole Board weighed whether to let Jones’ death sentence stand or commute it to life in prison without parole, an execution warrant was signed for another condemned killer.

In addition to denying Jones’ motion for a stay of execution, the state Supreme Court has also denied his request to appeal a ruling last Friday by the Butts County Superior Court. When the officer entered the front of the store he heard several shots ring out.

Tests showed each man had recently fired a gun or handled a recently fired gun, according to the evidence.

Both men were found guilty and given the death sentence in 1979. The judge ruled that Jones has made numerous arguments previously and that they are, therefore, procedurally barred. Dozens of those defendants served their sentences and have been released on parole, the lawyers wrote. However, Jones’ sentence was thrown out in 1987 when it was discovered that a Bible was allowed in the jury deliberation room.

Jones’ lawyers say they reviewed other cases of murders committed during armed robberies in Georgia, including some that were more brutal or involved more victims.

Solomon, who was also convicted and sentenced to death, was executed in Georgia’s electric chair in February 1985. Charron said Tackett was alive for some time because he aspirated blood.

Dunham said all five executions carried out in Georgia in 2015 were “highly questionable”, including that of a decorated war veteran who was “seriously mentally ill” and another man who was found by a state court to be mentally disabled. He was re-sentenced to death in 1997.

The Latest on legal challenges filed by a Georgia death row inmate who’s scheduled to die this week.

Jones is black, as was Solomon.