Former Fla. police officer scheduled for execution

STARKE, Fla. (AP) -- A former Florida police officer is scheduled to be executed for the murder of nine people 26 years ago.<br /> <br /> The execution by lethal injection of 56-year-old Manuel Pardo is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Florida State Prison in Starke. A federal judge denied Pardo's request for a stay Monday.<br /> <br /> Officials said most of Pardo's victims were involved with drugs. Pardo contended that he was doing the world a favor by killing them in 1986.<br /> <br /> Pardo's attorneys are trying to block his execution. They are arguing in federal appeals court that he is mentally ill, something his trial attorney believed more than two decades ago.<br /> <br /> Pardo was dubbed the "Death Row Romeo" after he corresponded with dozens of women and persuaded many to send him money.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/12/256057