Parole Board: No Clemency For Courthouse Killer

The state parole board is recommending against clemency for a condemned Ohio inmate who killed his estranged wife and brother-in-law in a room at a court in 1992. Abdul Awkal is scheduled to be executed June 6 for killing his estranged wife and brother-in-law in a Cuyahoga County room where the Awkals were taking up divorce and custody issues. Awkal's lawyer says the man suffers from severe mental health problems and should be spared. The state says Awkal carefully planned the killings and should be executed. The parole board voted 8-1 against mercy for Awkal. Board members concluded Awkal planned the shooting and that it wasn't the result of a psychotic breakdown. Gov. John Kasich has the final say on clemency.