Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement regarding the Ohio Parole Board’s recommendation against executive clemency for Christopher Newton:
“As a result of his conviction for aggravated murder, Mr. Christopher Newton is scheduled to be executed on May 24, 2007 at 10 a.m. Although Mr. Newton has not requested clemency, I have completed a review of the circumstances surrounding his case to determine if executive clemency is warranted.
In making this determination, my staff and I conducted various interviews and reviewed the judicial decisions associated with this matter, Mr. Newton’s institutional mental health records, photographs, the Adult Parole Authority‘s report, letters received by the parole board, and the arguments and exhibits presented at the Parole Board hearing.
We have also reviewed letters received in the Governor’s Office regarding this matter and the unanimous recommendation against clemency forwarded to me by the Ohio Parole Board on January 25, 2007.
Based on this review, I concur with the Parole Board recommendation on this matter.”