Virginia man's execution stayed by Supreme Court

Published: 2005-07-13

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- Catholic leaders in Virginia praised a July 11 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution of Robin Lovitt, convicted of killing the manager of an Arlington pool hall with a pair of scissors during a 1998 robbery. The stay comes in the wake of a letter written on Lovitt's behalf by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and Richmond Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo. The bishops wrote a letter to Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner requesting clemency for Lovitt because questions have been raised about his murder conviction. But they also said that "the death penalty would be unnecessary, and hence inappropriate, even if we could be absolutely certain of Mr. Lovitt's guilt," and they added that today's society can be protected without the use of capital punishment. Lovitt's execution was scheduled for 9 p.m. July 11 and clemency was given by the high court at 4:30 p.m. that day.

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