Arizona inmate requests to expedite execution, against state’s timeline

An inmate on death row in Arizona has made a request to the state’s highest court to expedite his execution, bypassing the usual legal procedures. This prisoner has consistently advocated for the swift implementation of his death sentence.

After a two-year hiatus to review its procedures, Arizona is set to resume the use of the death penalty with the execution of Aaron Brian Gunches.

Gunches, in a handwritten court filing this week, has requested the state Supreme Court to set a date for his execution in mid-February. This comes after his murder conviction in the 2002 killing of Ted Price.

Gunches, who is not a lawyer but is representing himself, expressed that he believes his death sentence is “long overdue.” He also expressed frustration with the state’s delay in requesting a legal briefing schedule for the execution.

The office of Attorney General Kris Mayes, who is seeking Gunches’ execution, has stated that a briefing schedule is necessary to ensure that corrections officials can fulfill the execution requirements. This includes conducting tests for the pentobarbital that will be utilized for his lethal injection.

Two years ago, Gunches appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court, requesting the issuance of his execution warrant. He believed that this would not only serve justice but also provide closure for the families of the victims.

In April 2023, Gunches was scheduled to be executed. However, Governor Katie Hobbs’ office stated that the state was not ready to carry out the death penalty due to a lack of staff with the necessary expertise.

Hobbs, a Democrat, made a commitment to refrain from conducting any executions until the state can ensure that no laws are being violated.

Unfortunately, the review that Hobbs had initiated came to an end in November when she dismissed the retired federal magistrate judge she had appointed to oversee the review.

Gunches admitted to being guilty of a murder charge in the fatal shooting of Price, his girlfriend’s former husband, in the vicinity of Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix.

Arizona, with 111 inmates awaiting execution, resumed its execution process in 2022 after an almost eight-year break. The hiatus was due to concerns over a botched execution in 2014 and challenges in acquiring the necessary drugs for lethal injection.

The state has faced criticism for the delay in administering an IV for lethal injection to a condemned prisoner.

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