April 15


TENNESSEE:

Gov. Bredesen said Thursday the reprieve for condemned inmate Philip
Workman won't be extended.

Workman is on death row for the 1981 slaying of a Memphis police officer.

Workman was scheduled to die by lethal injection in September 2003, but
Bredesen gave him a reprieve until Thursday because of questions
surrounding testimony by a former medical examiner at a clemency hearing.

The reprieve's expiration will clear the way for the state attorney
general's office to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court for a new execution
date.

Bredesen made his decision after receiving what he called a "thorough
analysis" from state medical examiner Dr. Bruce Levy.

Defense lawyers have contended former Shelby County medical examiner O.C.
Smith gave inaccurate testimony at a 2001 clemency hearing when he said
Workman's .45-caliber handgun fired the bullet that killed Officer Ronald
Oliver.

Levy, of Nashville, concluded Oliver died from a single shot fired by
Workman.

Bredesen said he accepts Levy's report and the process can now move
forward.

Workman could become the 2nd inmate executed in Tennessee since 1960.

(source: Associated Press)

This is definitely upsetting news. I had been following Mr. Workman's case but with the resumption of executions in SC after an almost 2 year hiatus my attention had been diverted.
With not hearing any news in the main stream media I mistakenly was hoping that his case was going to be resolved in a positive light. I now find that is not the case.

My prayers go out to Philip Workman and his family. I was there when they had the execution of Robert Coe, and I know the fear that the family felt. That was a truly sad morning for Tennessee.