Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has made the first step in attempting to put convicted murderer Aaron Brian Gunches to death.
Mayes filed a motion to set a briefing schedule with the state Supreme Court for what would be the first execution in Arizona in more than two years.
Mayes did not file for the actual warrant for execution. That would come after legal arguments are heard and could take 4 to 5 months.
The previous death warrant for Gunches expired early last year. Gov. Katie Hobbs had ordered a review of the execution process, saying it was due to botched lethal injections. Late last month, the state announced it would resume seeking executions after a review from the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry was finalized.
“The death penalty is the law of Arizona right now, and as attorney general it's my responsibility to uphold the law. And I would also say that the family of Ted Price, who was the victim in this case, has been waiting 22 long years for justice to be done," Mayes said.
Mayes said the state will complete reviews after each execution moving forward.
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