29 April 2020 :

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the May 6, 2020 execution of Edward Busby for sixty days. Busby’s was the nation’s seventh execution postponed in the United States because of the coronavirus and the sixth in Texas. The stay, issued on April 27, marked the 26th execution date in the first half of 2020 to be halted. The court’s stay order did not specify the grounds for its decision, saying only that “we have determined that the execution should be stayed at the present time.” However, Busby’s stay motion had sought to postpone his execution because of the dangers of moving forward with his case during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The rapidly spreading coronavirus is producing an unprecedented crisis in this country, and in Texas,” wrote defense counsel Jeffrey R. Newberry. “It is affecting every aspect of daily functioning—including in the criminal justice system. Each day, each hour, increases the number of people and systems effected.” The defense motion cited the state of disaster declared by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and an emergency order entered by the Texas courts as support for the stay request. “Under the Court’s order,” Busby’s motion states, “all Texas courts may—and must to avoid risk to court staff, parties, attorneys, jurors, and the public—modify or suspend any and all deadlines and procedures for a stated period ending no later than 30 days after the Governor’s state of disaster has been lifted.” Oscar Smith’s execution was also delayed in Tennessee. For the other 6 executions delayed, see Hands off Cain 16/03/2020, 19/03/2020, 07/04/2020, 01/04/2020, 17/04/2020, 16/04/2020. Busby, 47, Black, was Sentenced to death on November 18, 2005 for the January 30, 2004 kidnapping, robbing and murder of 77-year-old Laura Lee Crane.