Gov. Reviews Split Decision

By: Associated Press

Updated: Mon 10:39 AM, Feb 17, 2003

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove said Friday the split decision by the Mississippi Supreme Court on condemned inmate Ronald Chris Foster shows the difficult issues about the case.

In a 4-4 decision Thursday, the court dismissed arguments that Foster is mentally retarded.

Musgrove said he has not reviewed the decision, but he'll discuss options with the attorney general's office and with the defense lawyers.

The governor said the Supreme Court vote signifies the difficulty of the issues.

Foster, now 30, was 17 when he killed George Shelton, a Lowndes County convenience store clerk. He was sentenced to death by a Lauderdale County jury. The trial was held in Meridian on a change of venue.

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