Life instead of death
The week's news at a glance.
Richmond, Va.
A convicted killer who would have been the 1,000th American executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 was granted clemency this week, just hours before he was scheduled to die. Robin Lovitt, 42, was convicted of stabbing a man to death with a pair of scissors during a 1998 pool hall robbery. Lovitt admits he participated in the robbery, but claims he was in the bathroom when the killing took place. His lawyers have argued that DNA tests on the scissors could prove his innocence. But authorities disposed of the scissors after Lovitt was convicted—a factor cited by Democratic Virginia Gov. Mark Warner when he commuted Lovitt’s sentence from death to life in prison. “I believe clemency should only be exercised in the most extraordinary circumstances,” Warner said. “The improper discarding of evidence” by prosecutors, he said, was such a circumstance.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 health-conscious cartoons about anti-vaccine rhetoric
Cartoons Artists take on RFK Jr's militant methods, the viral lottery, and more
-
September 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include court-approved racial profiling and America's moral compass
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashion
In the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing