One Georgia woman’s last chance at life was denied, and now she is set to die Tuesday night.
Despite Pope Francis’ call for an end to the death penalty and a last-ditch effort to appeal the ruling, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles decided Tuesday to stand by their refusal to spare Kelly Gissendaner, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
Gissendaner was convicted in February of 1997 for conspiring with her lover, Greg Owen, in the murder of her husband. Critics of the planned execution have pointed out that Owen, who actually carried out the murder, is currently serving life without parole.
The board heard last minute appeals from her family today before declining to intervene.
Pope Francis called for an end to the death penalty during his visit to the U.S. He also, weighed in on the case, issuing a letter through Vatican Ambassador to the U.S. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
“While not wishing to minimize the gravity of the crime for which Ms. Gissendander has been convicted, and while sympathizing with the victims, I nonetheless implore you, in consideration of the reasons that have been expressed to your board, to commute the sentence to one that would better express both justice and mercy,” Vigano wrote.
The execution is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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