Reuters: U.S.: Ohio governor commutes obese killer's sentence to life in prison

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Ohio governor commutes obese killer's sentence to life in prison Dec 17th 2012, 19:57 CLEVELAND | Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:57pm EST CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Ohio Governor John Kasich on Monday commuted the death sentence of an inmate who had sought mercy because he is obese, saying the man's legal representation was not adequate and he should spend the rest of his life in prison. Ronald Post, 53, who weighs more than 450 pounds, was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on January 16 for the aggravated murder in 1983 of motel desk clerk Helen Vantz. A parole board panel recommended on Friday that his death sentence be commuted to life in prison. "Regardless of the heinous nature of their crime, a criminal defendant is entitled to an effective defense, especially in a death penalty case," Kasich said in a statement. "The Parole Board's conclusion is that Ronald Post did not come close to receiving such a defense. After my own careful review, I agree." Kasich said the decision to commute Post's sentence "should not be viewed by anyone as diminishing this awful crime or the pain it has caused."

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