'Death row' Briton in hospital
Kenny Richey, Scotsman on death row for 20 years in US, misses court hearing that would have freed him through illness
Thursday, 20, Dec 2007 04:25
A UK citizen who has spent the last 20 years on death row in the United States has had his bid for freedom delayed after being taken to hospital.
Scotsman Kenny Richey was due to enter a no contest plea in court this afternoon that would have allowed him to walk free.
He was convicted by an Ohio court of an arson attack that killed a two-year-old girl.
The 43-year-old has always protested his innocence and refused to agree to a plea bargain that would have handed him an 11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter.
But hours before today's scheduled court appearance he fell ill and was taken to St Rita's medical centre in Ohio amid reports he is suffering from a pre-existing heart condition.
His hearing has now been rescheduled for Tuesday January 8th.
Talking ahead of his admission to hospital, Richey's mother Eileen said she was "happy beyond belief".
Mrs Richey still lives in Edinburgh, where her son was brought up, and a flight had already reportedly been booked to take him back to Scotland for Christmas.
Cynthia Collins, two, died in a house fire Richey was convicted of starting in a revenge attack upon his ex-girlfriend and her partner who lived in the flat underneath.