Denver Appeals Court Considers Oklahoma Death Penalty Case

DENVER (AP) — A man sentenced to death for killing a Texas couple camping in Oklahoma nearly 20 years ago is asking a federal appeals court for a chance to prove he should be spared the death penalty. In arguments before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday, Edward Leon Fields' public defender, Hunter Labovitz, said Fields' lawyer at the time of his sentencing hearing was ineffective because, among other things, she failed to call an expert witness who could have testified about how brain damage impaired his judgment and reasoning in the killing of Charles and Shirley Chick of Hurst, Texas in 2003.

The government's lawyer, Jeffrey Kahan (KAHN), said the brain damage found by the defense was mild and pointed out that Fields was able to stalk the Chicks for several days before the killings.

By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press