Georgia Judge Halts Execution Under New Survivor Justice Act

A judge in Georgia has granted a stay of execution for Stacey Humphreys, 53, who was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday. The stay was issued Tuesday by Cobb County Superior Court Judge Tyler Browning, following arguments by Humphreys' attorney that a new state law, the Georgia Survivor Justice Act, could entitle his client to a new hearing.

Humphreys was sentenced to death for the 2003 killings of Cyndi Williams, 33, and Lori Brown, 21, in the Atlanta suburbs. His attorney, Brian Kammer, argued that Humphreys endured severe childhood abuse and domestic violence, which he contends contributed significantly to his criminal behavior. Kammer presented evidence that Humphreys suffered years of beatings, including a skull fracture at age three, sexual abuse, burns, and exposure to domestic violence and substance abuse.

Experts testified that these experiences caused severe damage to Humphreys' mental health and played a role in his criminal conduct. The Survivor Justice Act, signed into law earlier this year by Governor Brian Kemp, allows individuals convicted of crimes to seek reduced sentences if they can prove that abuse they suffered as children contributed to their actions. Kammer believes Humphreys' case aligns with the intent of this new legislation.

However, Sabrina Graham, a lawyer with the attorney general's office, argued that the law is not applicable to Humphreys' situation. Graham contended that the act was intended for cases where individuals were abused by the victims they harmed, and does not apply to death row inmates seeking to commute their sentences. She expressed concern that applying the law in this instance could set a precedent for other death row inmates to seek similar reviews.

Humphreys had been denied clemency by a parole board on Tuesday. The crime occurred on November 3, 2003, when Humphreys entered the real estate office where Williams and Brown were working. Evidence presented at his trial indicated that he forced the women to strip and reveal their bank PINs before fatally shooting them. He then withdrew over $3,000 from their accounts to pay off high-interest payday loans, according to court documents.

The Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the stay of execution, stating that the appeal would be considered in due course. The District Attorney's Office issued a statement indicating their continued focus on supporting the victims' loved ones. Attorneys for Humphreys are seeking to have his sentence reduced to life in prison.