A death row inmate who claims to be immortal has avoided execution at the last minute after being deemed mentally unfit. John Richard Wood, 56, was due to be executed for the murder of a state trooper in South Carolina, but three mental health experts concluded he is not competent to be put to death.
Wood suffers from schizophrenia and believes he has already died and been resurrected three times. He also thinks he has received a pardon from the governor and that he will be resurrected if the state executes him. The judge in the case noted that Wood believes he has 'wings' and was gifted immortality to win his fight against the justice system.
In December 2000, Wood shot and killed Trooper Eric Nicholson during a traffic stop. He then fled and fired at police, hitting another officer. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 2002. During his trial, Wood believed the courtroom was acting as an agent of a deity named 'Beloved Kevin Rudolph', whom he thought was part of a war for control of the planet.
Although Wood understands why he was initially sentenced to death, he still believes police were 'framing him for brutal rape'. The judge's ruling will now be reviewed by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which may uphold or overturn the decision.
