Arizona Death Row Inmate Wants to Die Earlier Than Planned, Says Execution Is 'Long Overdue'

An Arizona death row inmate is asking the state's Supreme Court to expedite his execution, bypassing legal formalities to have his sentence carried out sooner.

Aaron Brian Gunches, convicted of the 2002 murder of Ted Price, filed a handwritten request this week, urging the court to schedule his execution for mid-February.

Gunches, representing himself, argued that his death sentence is "long overdue" and accused the state of delaying justice, AP reported.

Gunches had already requested an execution warrant in 2021, emphasizing the need for justice and closure for the victim's family. His execution was scheduled for April 2023, but postponed due to the state's inability to meet execution requirements.

Attorney General Kris Mayes' office has stated that a briefing period is necessary to the state's preparation for the execution, which includes the testing of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital.

Arizona seeks to resume executions following a two-year pause for procedural reviews after Governor Katie Hobbs previously halted them, citing a lack of qualified personnel and concerns over compliance with legal standards. The review concluded in November.

Arizona's death penalty practices have faced scrutiny in recent years, particularly following a botched execution in 2014 and ongoing difficulties with IV insertions for lethal injections. The state currently has 111 inmates on death row awaiting execution.