Georgia Execution Halted

The execution of a convicted cop-killer was stayed in the final hours yesterday after seven of nine witnesses recanted their testimony and others admitted they lied to police. Troy Anthony Davis was scheduled to die today by lethal injection; the Georgia Parole Board granted him 90 days to prove his innocence, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

One witness told the board she saw the real killer run from the scene in1989 but had withheld information out of fear. Davis's battle to overturn his conviction has been stymied in part by a federal law aimed at expediting death penalty appeals. The fallen cop’s son said his family wants “God's will," but believes Davis is guilty. (More Atlanta stories.)