He says he's ready; will he die tonight?
By seeking an appeal, killer William Castillo could, at the last moment, halt his execution
By Cy Ryan
Las Vegas Sun
CARSON CITY - On Nevada's Death Row, Jimmy Neuschafer was the master of delays - and gastronomical gamesmanship.
Twice Neuschafer told authorities he was giving up his appeals and was ready to die. In 1987 he was placed in the "last night cell" and ordered steak and lobster as his final meal. He then called his attorney to get a stay of execution.
He used the same gambit in 1990, eating a final meal of fried chicken, chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate milkshakes - and then having his attorney launch a new appeal.
The warden vowed Neuschafer would not get a third last meal, but the condemned convict still managed to outmaneuver justice again - by dying in prison before he could be executed.
Now, the state is preparing for the execution tonight of Las Vegas killer William Castillo, who would be the 13th man put to death since Nevada reinstated capital punishment in 1977.
Castillo was convicted of the tire-iron slaying of 86-year old Isabelle Berndt in her Las Vegas home in November 1995. She was asleep when he entered the home, struck her with the tire iron, smothered her with a pillow and stole a VCR, money and silverware. Police later found the VCR and silverware at Castillo's apartment.
Like Neuschafer, Castillo has told officials that he is abandoning his appeals - and has the power to call off the execution at the last minute. Castillo's attorney, however, says that scenario is unlikely, even though the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment would guarantee him a stay.
Late Friday, however, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty filed a motion with the Nevada Supreme Court seeking an immediate hearing on the constitutionality of the state's use of lethal injection as its method of execution.
Although that request was filed on behalf of another inmate, Pedro Rodriguez, it could postpone Castillo's scheduled execution.
By seeking an appeal, killer William Castillo could, at the last moment, halt his execution
By Cy Ryan
Las Vegas Sun
CARSON CITY - On Nevada's Death Row, Jimmy Neuschafer was the master of delays - and gastronomical gamesmanship.
Twice Neuschafer told authorities he was giving up his appeals and was ready to die. In 1987 he was placed in the "last night cell" and ordered steak and lobster as his final meal. He then called his attorney to get a stay of execution.
He used the same gambit in 1990, eating a final meal of fried chicken, chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate milkshakes - and then having his attorney launch a new appeal.
The warden vowed Neuschafer would not get a third last meal, but the condemned convict still managed to outmaneuver justice again - by dying in prison before he could be executed.
Now, the state is preparing for the execution tonight of Las Vegas killer William Castillo, who would be the 13th man put to death since Nevada reinstated capital punishment in 1977.
Castillo was convicted of the tire-iron slaying of 86-year old Isabelle Berndt in her Las Vegas home in November 1995. She was asleep when he entered the home, struck her with the tire iron, smothered her with a pillow and stole a VCR, money and silverware. Police later found the VCR and silverware at Castillo's apartment.
Like Neuschafer, Castillo has told officials that he is abandoning his appeals - and has the power to call off the execution at the last minute. Castillo's attorney, however, says that scenario is unlikely, even though the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment would guarantee him a stay.
Late Friday, however, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty filed a motion with the Nevada Supreme Court seeking an immediate hearing on the constitutionality of the state's use of lethal injection as its method of execution.
Although that request was filed on behalf of another inmate, Pedro Rodriguez, it could postpone Castillo's scheduled execution.
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