Fla. justices refuse to halt execution next week

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1469565.html

Fla. justices refuse to halt execution next week

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution next week of a man convicted of murdering a state wildlife officer 26 years ago.

The justices Monday rejected claims from Martin Edward Grossman that he wasn't given a fair chance to prove his trial lawyer had been ineffective nor allowed to present certain mitigating evidence against a death sentence.

The high court also ruled he was premature in arguing that he may be mentally incompetent. An insanity claim must first go to Gov. Charlie Crist for a ruling before it can be appealed.

Grossman, 45, is set for execution Feb. 16 for the 1984 murder of wildlife officer Margaret "Peggy" Park, 26, in Pinellas County. She was shot with her own gun.