Mexican Moved From Death Row

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry commuted the death sentence of a convicted murderer from Mexico to life without parole Thursday in a case in which state and foreign officials alike said the inmate's life should be spared.

The move came as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals voted 3 to 2 to give Osbaldo Torres, 29, an indefinite stay of execution. It granted Torres' request for a lower-court hearing on the state's failure to inform him of his right to contact the Mexican consulate after his arrest.

The governor's decision, which makes the appeals court decision moot, came after the Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Torres on May 7. Torres had been scheduled to die Tuesday for the 1993 deaths of Francisco Morales and Maria Yanez.

"This was a difficult decision, but I believe clemency is warranted by a number of issues involved in this case," Henry said.