Illinois High Court Sets Gacy Execution

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions and death sentence of John Wayne Gacy in the sex-related killings of 33 young men and boys.

The court set a Jan. 11, 1989, execution date, but that is almost certain to be delayed by further appeals. The ruling was the second time the court has turned down an appeal by Gacy, 46, who was convicted on March 12, 1980.

In a ruling issued without written dissent, the court rejected arguments that defense testimony at Gacy’s trial was improperly restricted, and that his trial attorney failed to introduce evidence at a death penalty hearing that might have spared him.