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Board to hold clemency hearing for Georgia death row inmate

FILE - In this undated photo made available by the Georgia Department of Corrections, shows Steven Frederick Spears. Spears is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. He has refused efforts to spare his life. Spears was convicted of murder in the August 2001 death of Sherri Holland at her home in Dahlonega, GA. (Georgia Department of Corrections via AP) FILE - In this undated photo made available by the Georgia Department of Corrections, shows Steven Frederick Spears. Spears is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. He has refused efforts to spare his life. Spears was convicted of murder in the August 2001 death of Sherri Holland at her home in Dahlonega, GA. (Georgia Department of Corrections via AP)

By Associated Press November 15, 2016 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – The state parole board plans to hold a clemency hearing for a Georgia inmate scheduled for execution this week.

Steven Frederick Spears is to be put to death Wednesday. He was convicted in the August 2001 slaying of his ex-girlfriend Sherri Holland at her home in Dahlonega, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Lawyers and other representatives for Spears plan to ask the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to spare his life during a hearing Tuesday. Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley says he plans to argue for Spears’ execution.

The parole board is the only authority in Georgia with power to commute a death sentence.

Spears’ lawyers are also asking a judge to set a hearing on alleged constitutional problems during his trial and sentencing.