A judge has allowed a death row inmate to move forward with his request to be executed quickly. Dale Hausner was found guilty of six murders and many other crimes in connection with shootings around the Valley during 2005 and 2006. During his spree, he randomly shot people on foot, on bikes and animals.
Hausner has requested a speedy execution, and Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Roland Steinle has been rejecting attempts to stop a competency hearing that would determine whether Hausner is mentally fit to waive further appeals.
Prosecutors moved to cancel the hearing scheduled for later this month. An attorney filed on Hausner’s behalf to take the Attorney General’s Office off the case and asked the judge to rule that execution is cruel and unusual punishment. A psychiatrist has requested to no longer serve as a court-appointed expert.
Judge Steinle has denied all three requests.