An inmate on death row who is scheduled for execution this week is pleading with the governor of the state to meet with him “before an innocent man is put to death.”
Anthony Boyd has consistently maintained his innocence for over thirty years in the case of Gregory Huguley’s death, despite being convicted of capital murder. Boyd, aged 53, has been on death row in Alabama since then and is now making a last-minute plea before his scheduled execution by nitrogen gas.
Boyd, in a recorded message played at a press conference in Alabama, expressed his desire for a meeting with Kay Ivey, the state’s Republican governor, stating, “Before an innocent man is executed, come sit down with me and have a conversation with the guy you deemed one of the worst of the worst.”
The inmate further added that if Governor Ivey perceives any deception or evasion from him in the meeting, she is encouraged to proceed with the execution. However, Boyd implored, “If not, then I ask you to halt this execution, to pause and thoroughly investigate my case.”
Boyd was found guilty of the 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley, who was burned alive over a $200 (£150) drug debt in Talladega County, Alabama. The victim’s body was discovered in a rural area on a recreation ground in August of that year. Prosecutors allege that Boyd was one of four individuals involved in the kidnapping of Mr. Huguley the previous evening.
Despite Boyd’s persistent appeals, authorities in the county firmly believe in his culpability. Mike Lewis, a spokesperson for Governor Ivey, mentioned that all cases are reviewed before scheduling execution dates. He stated, “At this point, however, we have not seen any recent court filings disputing Mr. Boyd’s guilt in the horrific, burning-alive murder of Gregory Huguley. Nor have we received a clemency submission to that effect.”
Today, Governor Ivey’s team labeled Boyd’s case as “particularly challenging.” The 81-year-old governor has only intervened in one execution since taking office in 2017. Appeals have been made by other death row inmates in Alabama, including Geoffrey Todd West, who was convicted of killing a woman during a petrol station robbery in 1997.
Additionally, Shawn Ingram, the individual prosecutors accused of pouring gasoline and setting Mr. Huguley on fire, was also found guilty of capital murder and is currently on death row in Alabama.
Alabama initiated the use of nitrogen gas for executions last year. Boyd’s legal team has urged the federal courts to stop the execution in order to scrutinize this new method.
