Attorneys say Morales has post-traumatic stress due to execution delay

Convicted killer Michael Morales is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because California prison officials let him think for hours that he was going to be executed until it was called off, according to his attorneys.

Morales was convicted of the 1981 rape and murder of 17-year-old Tokay High School senior Terri Lynn Winchell. He has been awaiting execution ever since, and was scheduled to die on Feb. 21, 2006.

The execution was halted at the last minute, when anesthesiologists declined to be involved as part of a last-minute change ordered by a federal judge. All executions have been on hold ever since, and the state is now going through an overhaul of the process, including a public comment period.

Morales' attorneys submitted their letter during that period. It was one of about 7,300 written comments received, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In criticizing the new proposed process, his attorneys called for a way to prevent inmates from being exposed to a "mock execution."

For the full story, please see Friday's News-Sentinel.

Reader Feedback

lilgrlblu63 wrote on Jul 15, 2009 2:27 PM:

" So I read this article and had to laugh. This is Michael's last ditch effort everyone. He knows that there is a protocol that happens when an inmate is executed. His lawyer was in Federal Court just as I, other friends and family members were. It's a process and he knows this I'm sure of that. He just doesn't want to die. Do I care....Hell No!!..I am a hardcore advocate of the Death Penalty. My friend Terri Winchell, Polly Klass, Lacy Peterson and over 630 other family members of victims of violent crimes have waited long enough!!..He is appealing to the bleeding hearts of those who don't want him to be given lethal injection. Ironic thing about those people is they are more violent then those of us who advocate the Death Penalty. "

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parents2blame wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:43 AM:

" This MF'er really needs to be put to sleep. "

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Mad Dog wrote on Jul 10, 2009 12:09 AM:

" Layla, please follow up with a story about the stress that the victim's family has to deal with. "

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Lodian wrote on Jul 9, 2009 11:44 PM:

" Morales has post-traumatic stress due to execution delay?

Ah geez... what next? "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 9, 2009 10:45 PM:

" What snakeoil salesman lawyer came up with this defense? What a big giant pile of cow dung this is... PTS. Un-fn believable. "

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nocoen wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:49 PM:

" Give me a flipping break. Morales is a low life and should have been made into worm food many years ago. His lawyers are trashing the legal system. Maybe what we should do is have the lawyers take Mr Morales home and share space with him. He is a violent, unfeeling, unforgiving slimball who deserves a rapid, painful, and violent death. Unfortunately, he will only fall asleep and then die...Awe, too bad Michael... "

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al da long wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:34 PM:

" Use a hammer on his attorneys' heads and then see what they think. Terri's family should sue for the same, thinking the piece of trash was finally going to get to meet satan.

We all should send His attorneys hammers, to remind them of what they are representing! "

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veritas wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:18 PM:

" PS....Be aware uninformed readers that the real problem in the Kalifornia courts is Jerry Brown. Remember Rose "you get the" Bird, and the other scum he appointed. Get ready for the next election. "

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veritas wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:14 PM:

" Lets be honorable people and kill savages like Morales in the same way they killed their victims. That can't be construed to be cruel nor unusual punishment, can it? If so you who agree are the problem in American society and should also be disposed of. I dont care if Morales is Fried, Gassed, Hung, Shot, Injected, Ground up, or turned over to Winchels family for disposition of the creep. There is something wrong with a culture that worships a murdering scum, creep, slime like Morales and then says " Oh Oh Oh.....a needle is oooooohhh toooooo painful, it is cruel and unusual..... "

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Pat Maple wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:09 PM:

" These jackasses who are trying to pass for lawyers ought to be in there with him. In WWII they called it being shell shocked, Korea it was combat fatigue and Viet Nam it was PTSD. Putting a murderer in the same category as a combat soldier angers me to no end. My brother died from Agent Orange, it took 34 years...he woke up to the reality of death every day...right on OTH! "

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gray cloud wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:00 PM:

" OOOoooohhhhhhhaaaahwwww.....Po' Widdle Craized Murderer. We have been so cruel to this maniac/ fiend/ murderer/ nutcase/. He should have been Gelded immediately, then met his maker with a slice across the throat. If there was ever a person that earned "dying" it was this sack of sxxx. I Bet Hanner will pull my posting cause hanner will think i am speaking " mean words". "

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OTH wrote on Jul 9, 2009 8:30 PM:

" Well TDB. I wish they could run that drill every week. Let him know the terror his victim went through. This guy is going to get off and it makes me sick to my stomach.. Does anybody speak for the victim? Traumatic stress my behind. "

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peppier2 wrote on Jul 9, 2009 7:43 PM:

" Poor Morales with stress disorder. His victim didn't have a chance to have a life so he should be thankful for his every breath. I don't feel sorry for him at all. "

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