Ga. court rejects condemned man's lawsuit

ATLANTA - A judge rejected an attempt to delay a Georgia death row inmate's execution after his attorneys raised questions about the supply of a lethal injection drug.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson rejected a claim on Monday by attorneys for Emmanuel Hammond that Georgia's supply of sodium thiopental could be substandard.

Hammond's attorney, Brian Mendelsohn, said he wanted more time to look at the expiration dates of the drug, which is in short supply.

Defense attorneys say Georgia officials released documents that show the drugs could come from a London-based firm and need more investigation.

State attorneys called the lawsuit a red herring and said it should be thrown out.

Hammond is set to die for the 1988 abduction and murder of Julie Love, a 27-year-old preschool fitness instructor.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/1/235561