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Judge rules death row inmate not competent for execution

A Cuayhoga County judge has ruled a death row inmate is not mentally competent to be executed for killing his wife and brother-in-law. Today's ruling comes a week after Governor John Kasich ordered a last-minute reprieve for Abdul Awkal. During several days of testimony, his attorneys argued he is so mentally ill he believes the CIA is orchestrating his execution. Awkal is convicted of killing his estranged wife and brother-in-law in a county courthouse in 1992 as the couple prepared to divorce. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.