Killer jittery as death nears

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 10:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- As his execution nears, condemned killer Lawrence Colwell Jr. appears to be more jittery, and he has asked to see a federal public defender who could ask for a stay of the death penalty, officials said.

"He has changed a lot overnight," Fritz Schlottman, public information officer for the state Department of Transportation, said this morning.

On Thursday Schlottman had said Colwell, 36, seemed at peace with his decision to go forward with tonight's execution.

"He's ready to go, but he's leaving the window open," Schlottman said Thursday.

But this morning, Schlottman said, "He's kind of emotional."

If Colwell doesn't change his mind, he will be transferred to the "last night cell" around noon and will be moved to the death chamber at the Nevada State Prison shortly before 9 p.m. where he is to be injected with lethal drugs.

Colwell was sentenced to death for the slaying of a Las Vegas tourist. He declined further appeals and consistently has said he wants to die. He still has the option of filing an 11th hour appeal to stay the execution, however, and U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben has said he would stay the execution if asked by Colwell and his lawyer, the federal public defender's office.

Colwell met with representatives of the public defender's office Thursday and also visited with his mother, Ruby Culp of Grants Pass, Ore. He used the telephone several times, and he conferred with his religious adviser, who was not identified. Colwell is to visit with his parents today.

Colwell's would be the first execution in Nevada in nearly two years. Sebastian Bridges was put to death in April 2001.

There will be 22 witnesses, 10 of them from the news media, at the execution. Among those attending will be state Attorney General Brian Sandoval, a supporter of the death penalty. He said he believes he may be the first Nevada attorney general ever to witness an execution. Colwell has refused news media requests for interviews.

Colwell was sentenced to death for the strangulation of Frank Rosenstock, 76, who was visiting Las Vegas from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.