U.S. Supreme Court Denies Another Stay of Execution for Ga. Woman on Death Row

The United States Supreme Court has denied an application for a stay of execution for the lone woman on Georgia's death row.

The execution of Kelly Renee Gissendaner was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The 47-year-old was convicted of murder in the February 1997 slaying of her husband. She conspired with her lover, who stabbed Douglas Gissendaner to death.

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles declined Gissendaner clemency earlier on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court in Georgia denied her stay of execution Tuesday night.

Pope Francis, who called for a ban on the death penalty during his visit to the United States, urged the parole board to spare Gissendaner's life.

A local archbishop made the appeal on the pontiff's behalf. The letter referenced the pope's speech to Congress last week in which he called for a worldwide rollback of the death penalty "since every life is sacred."

The letter, provided to NBC News by a representative for Gissendaner, was presented to the State Board of Pardons and Parole, which held a briefing hearing Tuesday morning to reconsider its previous denial of clemency.
 

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