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A death row inmate from South Carolina, Steven Bixby, claims that judges ruling against him are under Satan’s influence and argues that many laws are unconstitutional. He has submitted handwritten legal documents in an effort to halt his impending execution, which was postponed earlier this year.
The 58-year-old was initially scheduled for execution in May for the murder of two police officers. However, the state Supreme Court intervened to assess his mental competency. The court is also examining whether his beliefs hinder his legal team’s ability to defend him.
Previously, a psychologist testified that while Bixby is aware of the events that led to his death sentence, he believes the blood evidence on his clothes from the crime scene contains Jesus Christ’s DNA.
Bixby was found guilty of killing two officers in 2003 during a confrontation over a land dispute with a construction crew near his home in Abbeville County. His parents, who were also implicated in the crime, have since passed away.
After a recent hearing, Bixby submitted more handwritten documents including phrases like “miscarriage of justice,” “law demands,” and “reversal of conviction,” seeking to overturn his conviction.
“Judge Sprouse gave me 10 minutes to address the court. Thanks!” Bixby wrote sarcastically, adding that the state constitution allows someone accused of a crime to be fully heard on their own or through their lawyer.
“The unconstitutional shrinks were given unlimited psychobabble time to their subjective, unsubstantiated conjecture of theories not based on facts!” Bixby wrote.
While Bixby’s motion includes some legal phrases, it does not offer any reasoning accepted by judges before.
“I’ve proven & the prosecution has admitted through the omission & admission under rule 24a & 55.2 of the charges against them since 12/05/03 (to whom it may concern letter) the Bixbys ‘total innocence.’ Set me free!” he wrote.
Bixby also suggested the judge would commit treason if he failed to stop his execution and free him from custody.
“I am an innocent man!! Let freedom ring & let those committing treason swing!!!” Bixby wrote. “Like Thomas Jefferson: I am standing on principle even if I stand alone.”
A court was asked to evaluate if Steven Bixby’s lawyers were unable to defend him because of his beliefs. (AP)
Bixby was out of regular appeals when the state Supreme Court halted his execution in March.
The court said that Bixby would be considered competent to be executed under federal law because he understands his crime led to his death sentence, but noted that state law requires an additional finding that death row inmates be able to rationally communicate with their lawyers.
An expert called by Bixby’s lawyers at last month’s hearing said the isolation of prison has only made his beliefs more delusional and that Bixby is stuck in his mindset.
The state’s expert said that while Bixby’s beliefs may make him a difficult client, it does not make him impossible to defend and that he views himself in some ways as a martyr prepared to die for his beliefs.
