Witnesses Aid Condemned Man

Efforts to save convicted murderer Coleman Wayne Gray from execution next week took a new twist as witnesses recanted testimony that led a jury to impose the death penalty on Gray 11 years ago. In affidavits given to Gray’s lawyers, a co-defendant and two other witnesses said they lied under pressure from police and the prosecutor, who has denied the charge. Gray, 39, is scheduled to die for the 1985 murder of a grocery store manager. Gray’s attorneys have appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond for a stay of execution. The Commonwealth of Virginia responded to the defense petition, saying the defense had not raised any new arguments that could affect the court’s decision.