Reginald Clemons is still waiting to find out if he'll be executed as scheduled next week. He's at the Correctional Center in Bonne Terre where he talked with FOX2 about the recent stay ordered by a Federal Appeals Court.
In the early 90's Reginald Clemons and three other teens were convicted in connection with the death of Robin and Julie Kerry. The sisters were pushed off the Chain of Rocks Bridge into the Mississippi river seventeen years later the state has set a June 17th execution date for Clemons. The 37 year old from North County says setting that date is premature.
"They're not saying I killed anybody. They're saying my guilt of rape connects me to the murder. But I've never been convicted of rape and the coroner says the rape never happened. There's too many flaws in the system for them to take something they can't give back."
The U.S. Appeals Court 8th Circuit ordered a stay on that execution pending the outcome of appeals the court is reviewing on lethal injection. Clemons and four other death row inmates filed suit claiming the process is inhumane.
"My family was real happy and I was glad to see the relief in their eyes."
The state could proceed with the execution once the court issues an opinion. Clemons claims the state refuses to seek the truth. He claims, Tom Cummins the cousin of the Kerry sisters is responsible for their deaths.
"I'm saying he knows what happened up there and he doesn't want to take responsibility for whatever it is that happened up there."
Cummins confessed but recanted and then was paid 150 thousand dollars after filing a complaint aginst the city becase he was beaten by police. Clemons says he's aware of the Kerry family's pain. But says he's not responsible for their deaths.
"I hate that they're gone. I know they're family wants the truth. But I can't be remorseful for something I didn't do."
Attorneys for Reginald Clemons have filed other motions in an effort to reverse the death sentence and ultimately a new trial.
In the early 90's Reginald Clemons and three other teens were convicted in connection with the death of Robin and Julie Kerry. The sisters were pushed off the Chain of Rocks Bridge into the Mississippi river seventeen years later the state has set a June 17th execution date for Clemons. The 37 year old from North County says setting that date is premature.
"They're not saying I killed anybody. They're saying my guilt of rape connects me to the murder. But I've never been convicted of rape and the coroner says the rape never happened. There's too many flaws in the system for them to take something they can't give back."
The U.S. Appeals Court 8th Circuit ordered a stay on that execution pending the outcome of appeals the court is reviewing on lethal injection. Clemons and four other death row inmates filed suit claiming the process is inhumane.
"My family was real happy and I was glad to see the relief in their eyes."
The state could proceed with the execution once the court issues an opinion. Clemons claims the state refuses to seek the truth. He claims, Tom Cummins the cousin of the Kerry sisters is responsible for their deaths.
"I'm saying he knows what happened up there and he doesn't want to take responsibility for whatever it is that happened up there."
Cummins confessed but recanted and then was paid 150 thousand dollars after filing a complaint aginst the city becase he was beaten by police. Clemons says he's aware of the Kerry family's pain. But says he's not responsible for their deaths.
"I hate that they're gone. I know they're family wants the truth. But I can't be remorseful for something I didn't do."
Attorneys for Reginald Clemons have filed other motions in an effort to reverse the death sentence and ultimately a new trial.
