S.D. governor stops state's first execution in 59 years

Published: 2006-08-30

PIERRE, S.D. (CNS) -- South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds issued a reprieve Aug. 29 in what would have been the state's first execution in 59 years. Rounds said the state's law outlining protocols for execution by lethal injection was outdated. The stay of execution for 24-year-old Elijah Page lasts until after July 1, 2007. The 1984 state law calls for a combination of two drugs to be used in lethal injections. The standard in other states is a three-drug combination, which is what the South Dakota prison system had intended to use on Page later on the day of the reprieve. In his Aug. 29 statement, Rounds said, "I will not have the individuals responsible for carrying out the execution be placed in a position of being in violation of state law." He said delaying the execution until after July 1 would allow the Legislature time to amend the statute to reflect more recent lethal injection protocols.

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