Judge denies convicted child killer’s appeal

A Knox County judge has ruled that a condemned Tennessee prisoner is not too mentally ill to be executed.
Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner on Friday rejected Billy Ray Irick’s bid to avoid execution.
The judge said a psychological evaluation of Irick conducted last weekend showed he was competent and understands why he faces a Dec. 7 execution, the paper reported.
Irick was convicted in the 1985 rape and killing of a 7-year-old girl he was baby-sitting.
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Aug. 4 refused to stay Irick’s execution.