European watchdog group wants Georgia execution halted

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Posted 6:52PM on Friday, February 15, 2002

STRANBOURG, FRANCE - The head of Europe's premier human rights watchdog group urged Georgia officials Friday to stop the scheduled execution of a man convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a girl when he was 17. Walter Schwimmer, secretary general of the Council of Europe, sent a letter to the chairman of the Georgia parole board asking him to spare the life of Alexander Williams, who is to be put to death Wednesday. Williams was 17 years old in 1986 when he kidnapped 16-year-old Aleta Bunch from an Augusta mall, raped and killed her. Williams' attorneys have argued he is mentally ill. In a letter to Walter Ray, chairman of the five-member Georgia parole board, Schwimmer wrote, ``I appeal to you in the name of human decency to stop his execution.'' The board has the power to stop executions. There was no immediate response from Ray, but spokeswoman Kathy Browning said the parole board frequently gets pleas to stop executions. Browning said, ``Usually they do not require any kind of response. They're just letting their views be known.'' The Council of Europe is a group dedicated to protecting human rights. It includes 43 European countries. In a statement, Schwimmer said ``The case of Alexander Williams is particularly distressing, since it is reported that he was a minor at the time of the crime and suffers from mental illness.'' Supporters ranging from mental health advocates to religious leaders and former first lady Rosalynn Carter have sent letters to the board over the years supporting Williams, who is also from Augusta. The parole board set a hearing for Tuesday morning so Williams' attorneys could plead his case again. The board planned to hear from the government and from Bunch's mother later Tuesday. Barring a stay, the execution will be carried out Wednesday night at the state prison in Jackson, south of Atlanta.