SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon death row inmate who has asked to waive his remaining appeals could be getting a mental evaluation before his case continues.
A Marion County Circuit Court judge had been scheduled to consider Friday whether to authorize the execution of 49-year-old inmate Gary Haugen. But after court filings late Thursday by Haugen’s lawyers, Judge Joseph Guimond is now expected to order a professional evaluation to determine whether Haugen is mentally competent to waive his appeals.
Haugen was sentenced to death for the 2007 murder of a fellow inmate, who suffered 84 stab wounds and a crushed skull. Haugen was in prison for the 1981 murder of his ex-girlfriend’s mother.
The 49-year-old inmate has written letters to court officials since 2008 asking to drop his appeals.
