Testimony continues for inmate set to be executed

Two witnesses testified Thursday in the hearing of a death-row inmate seeking to overturn his sentence before an execution scheduled for Oct. 3.

Judge M. Teresa Sarmina heard a full day of testimony in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas about the case of Terrance Williams, who in 1986 was convicted of murdering Amos Norwood in Philadelphia. Attorneys for Williams have said they will argue that at trial prosecutors did not disclose to the defense evidence that Norwood had sexually abused Williams.

The court on Thursday heard testimony from a Andrea Foulkes, a prosecutor in the murder trial, and Marc Draper, a co-defendant of Williams. Draper is scheduled to continue testifying on Monday.

Attorneys for Williams presented his case on Monday to the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, whose ensuing 3-2 vote for clemency fell short of the unanimous approval needed to recommend the governor act. Pennsylvania last executed a prisoner in 1999, and last put to death someone contesting their sentence in 1962.