> Supreme Court denies Virginia woman's stay of execution

A Virginia woman's death sentence will go ahead without delay.

The Supreme Court has denied a stay of execution for Teresa Lewis, who may become the first woman in Virginia to be executed in nearly 100 years.

"The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied," the Court ruled on Tuesday. Justice Ginsburg and Justice Sotomayor were the only members to rule in favor of the stay.

The 41-year-old is set to be put to death by lethal injection on Thursday.

"We are deeply disappointed," said Jim Rocap, Lewis' lawyer. "A good and decent person is about to lose her life because of a system that is badly broken."

Lewis was convicted in 2003 of plotting to kill her husband and stepson. Two men, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, carried out the murders the night before Halloween in 2002.

The men both received life sentences, while Lewis was given the death penalty. Her lawyer has tried to argue that Lewis was actually manipulated into the crime.

As evidence he claims Lewis' IQ is only a few points above mentally challenged, and that Shallenberger, who killed himself in 2006, wrote a letter admitting he convinced her to go along with the murders for the life insurance money.

In a telephone interview with WTVR in Richmond, Virginia, Lewis remained optimistic, but appeared ready to accept her fate.

"[i] hope that something is going to turn around," she said, but "if I have to go home with Jesus... I know that's going to be the best thing."

Lewis added: "I don't think there's enough words to even begin to tell her how sorry I am... I want people to know that you can be a good person and make the wrong choice, I want people to know that."


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