NCADP - The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Gregory Scott Johnson

Indiana

May 25, 2005

The state of Indiana is scheduled to execute Gregory Scott Johnson, a white man, May 25, 2005 for the June 23, 1985 murder and burglary of Ruby Hutslar, an 82 year old, white woman. Johnson set fire to the home after robbing and beating Hutslar. He was sentenced to death June 19, 1986.

Johnson was 20 years old at the time of the crime. He served 9 months in the National Guard. Mitigating circumstances include child abuse and serious psychological trauma preceding the incident. Some mitigating evidence was discovered after the trial which rendered the jury unable to consider all mitigating factors before sentencing Johnson to death.

Prosecutors did not disclose evidence that another person may have been at the murder scene. Johnson claims he lied when he confessed to protect an accomplice he refused to name.

Johnson is also making the claim that his appellate counsel was ineffective. His attorney during appeals contends this claim based on the fact that he was not compensated in a timely manner for his work. Johnson is currently also pursing a stay of execution so that he may donate a portion of his liver to his sister who is in need of a transplant.

Please take a moment to write the state of Indiana protesting the execution of Gregory Scott Johnson.

February 09, 2010

Subject:

I would like to express my sympathy over the death of Ruby Hutslar. I do not wish to minimize her death in any way. However, I oppose the execution of Gregory Scott Johnson. The prosecution in Mr. Johnson's case kept evidence from the defense which may have proven there was another man with Mr. Johnson at the time of the murder. Also, Johnson was neglected as a child and endured a traumatic incident before the crime. Clearly these are mitigating circumstances - some of which were discovered after the trial. Johnson did not receive the opportunity for a jury of his peers to hear both the evidence surrounding his crime and all mitigating circumstances. Furthermore, I am concerned about the quality of counsel Mr. Johnson received at both the trial and the appeals level. There is strong reason to believe that the justice system denied him his right to adequate legal representation. I implore you not to proceed with the execution of Gregory Scott Johnson.
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