A Texas death row inmate, Andre Thomas, who was scheduled to be executed next month for fatally stabbing his estranged wife and her two children, had his execution delayed by a judge on Tuesday.
Thomas’ lawyers argued that he had gouged out both of his eyes due to severe mental illness, and requested additional time to prepare for a court hearing to review his competency.
Thomas had claimed that God had instructed him to commit the killings in 2004 and he believed that all three were demons.
The judge’s decision to withdraw the execution date came after Thomas’ lawyers argued that executing him would violate the Constitution as he was incompetent.
The Supreme Court has ruled that a person must be competent to be executed.
Thomas’ lawyers have also alleged that he ate his second eye to prevent the government from hearing his thoughts.
They expressed confidence that presenting evidence of Thomas’ incompetence would persuade the court to agree that executing him would be in violation of the Constitution.
