Michael F. Easley
Governor

Theodis Beck
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

Execution date set for James Edward Thomas

 RALEIGH - Correction Secretary Theodis Beck has set Feb. 2, 2007, as the execution date for inmate James Edward Thomas.  The execution is scheduled for 2 a.m. at Central Prison in Raleigh. 

Thomas, 51, was sentenced to death July 21, 1987, in Wake County Superior Court for the first degree murder of Teresa Ann West.  He also received a consecutive term of life imprisonment for first-degree sexual offense.

  On Aug. 14, 1991, the North Carolina Supreme Court vacated the death sentence and remanded the case for re-sentencing.  On Feb. 24, 1995, at a capital re-sentencing hearing in Wake County, Thomas was again sentenced to death for the first-degree murder of West.

 On Dec. 11, 2006, the Supreme Court of the United States denied Thomas’ petition to review the decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, dismissing his appeal and causing this execution date to be set.

ATTENTION EDITORS: Photo of inmate Thomas (#0404386) can be obtained by using the "Offender Search" function on the Department of Correction Web site at www.doc.state.nc.us.  For more information about the death penalty, including selection of witnesses, click on “The Death Penalty” link.

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office     4202 Mail Service Center     Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700      Fax: (919) 716-3795     www.doc.state.nc.us