Court orders competency evaluation for Menzies; execution hearing canceled

SALT LAKE CITY — The execution of Ralph Menzies will be delayed after a court ordered a competency evaluation for the death row inmate who allegedly suffers from dementia.Menzies lawyers had argued that because their client suffers from dementia, his planned execution would be unconstitutional as he does not have"rational understanding" of why he stands to be put to death.

The Utah Attorney General's office had previously filed a warrant for the execution of Menzies, who was previously sentenced to death for the 1986 kidnapping and murder of Maurine Hunsaker. In his ruling, Judge Matthew Bates ordered to stay all proceedings in the execution until an evaluation of Menzies is performed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The department will appoint two examiners who are not involved in Menzies' current treatment.

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