Monday, April 24, 2006

The US Supreme Court

has agreed to tell the State of Florida how it may kill Clarence Hill.

Hill was convicted of killing Pensacola police Officer Stephen Taylor in 1982.

Taylor, 26, and Officer Larry Bailly had gone to investigate a silent alarm at a bank in downtown Pensacola, and caught Hill's partner, Cliff Jackson, outside the bank. As the officers attempted to handcuff Jackson, Hill came up from behind, killing Taylor and wounding Bailly. Hill was shot five times. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison.

Bailly, who is retired, did not respond to a request for comment made through the Pensacola Police Department.

Hill also has claimed he should not be executed since he is mentally retarded. That argument was rejected by the state Supreme Court, which noted that a mental evaluation showed his IQ was 16 points higher than the standard of 70 or below.

Taylor's family is growing weary after 24 years of delays, said his older brother, Jack Taylor. They want Hill dead and they were angry when his execution was halted.

"If they want me to, I'd put a bullet in his brain," said Taylor, 61, who lives in Pensacola.

"It needs to be done and it needs to be over with," said Linda Knouse, the slain officer's sister.

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