20 April 2017 :

Arkansas Supreme Court issues stay for Stacey Johnson. The Arkansas Supreme Court has halted 1 of 2 executions set for Thursday, saying the condemned inmate should have a chance to prove his innocence with more DNA testing. Stacey Johnson claims that advanced DNA techniques could show that he didn’t kill Carol Heath, a 25-year-old mother of two, in 1993 at her southwest Arkansas apartment. In a 4-3 ruling late Wednesday afternoon, the state’s highest court issued a stay for Johnson and ordered a new hearing in lower court for Johnson to make his claims. Johnson was set for execution Thursday night along with inmate Ledell Lee, who is also seeking a stay in a separate case. The Innocence Project previously asked the state's circuit court to grant Johnson new DNA testing. In a press release, the group said newer DNA testing has "never been performed" in his case that could potentially prove his innocence. The evidence in the case shows Heath was stabbed and raped. Johnson has maintained his innocence throughout his entire time in prison.