An Oklahoma judge ruled on Thursday that James Ryder, a death row inmate convicted for his involvement in the 1999 killings of a mother and son, is not mentally fit to be executed.
Pittsburg County Judge Michael Hogan made the decision following a competency hearing, where experts testified that Ryder suffers from schizophrenia.
Ryder’s attorney, Emma Rolls, emphasized his long-standing mental illness and urged the state to halt any execution attempts.
Despite the defense’s arguments, an expert for the state maintained that Ryder understood the reasons for his execution.
Ryder was sentenced to death for the beating death of Daisy Hallum and life without parole for the shotgun slaying of her son, Sam Hallum.
The court has tasked relevant departments with determining a suitable confinement for Ryder until his competency is restored.
The Attorney General’s office expressed disappointment with the ruling but affirmed their commitment to pursuing justice in the case.
