Among those scheduled to be put to death next month in the state is Kimberly McCarthy, convicted of the 1997 murder of a 71-year-old woman.

CNN: Executions, death sentences remain steady over past year

Fitzsimons, who claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress, was convicted of murder by an Iraqi court on Monday.

BBC: Danny Fitzsimons says 'only God' can judge him

For orientation, in 2011, he participated in the summer reading program and commented in a group discussion blog about the "West Memphis Three, " the well-known case of men convicted of murder as teens only to be later released due to new evidence.

WSJ: Boston Marathon Bombings: Turn to Religion Split Bomb Suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Home

Speaking in hypothetical terms, he pointed out that Smith could now be facing a jail term that is up to 25 years less than if he was convicted of Ms Spence's murder.

BBC: Lynda Spence trial: Ex-accused 'did not see murder'