Arizona Supreme Court sets execution date for man who pleaded guilty to murder more than 17 years ago. Aaron Brian Gunches, convicted in 2007 for shooting his girlfriend’s ex-husband Ted Price in 2002, will be put to death on March 19, marking the state’s first application of the death penalty in over two years. Gunches also shot a trooper in 2003 near the California border.
Arizona, with 112 prisoners on death row, last carried out three executions in 2022 after an eight-year hiatus due to botched executions and difficulties in obtaining drugs. Gunches, who had previously requested an earlier execution date, was denied by the court.
The death warrant for Gunches was initially issued two years ago but not carried out due to a review of the state’s death penalty protocol. Governor Katie Hobbs recently dismissed the retired judge overseeing the review, stating that critical improvements were made to meet legal and constitutional standards. Gunches, 53, is representing himself in court.
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