Lethal injection challenge to be heard by high court

THE US Supreme Court yesterday agreed to consider the constitutionality of lethal injections in a case that could affect the way inmates are executed around the country.

The high court will hear a challenge from two inmates on death row in Kentucky — Ralph Baze and Thomas Clyde Bowling Jnr — who sued Kentucky in 2004, claiming lethal injection amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Baze had been scheduled for execution last night, but the Kentucky Supreme Court halted the proceedings earlier this month.