Lawyers of death row inmate set to die by gruelling execution method object for one specific reason

A man named Ralph Leroy Menzies, who has been on death row for decades, is now scheduled to be executed later this year in Utah. His execution is set for September 5 and will be carried out by firing squad, a method he chose many years ago.

This decision has drawn attention not just because of how long Menzies has been waiting on death row, but also because of his declining mental health and the arguments from his lawyers that he no longer understands what is happening to him.

Menzies was convicted in 1988 for the horrific murder of a 26-year-old woman named Maurine Hunsaker. In 1986, he abducted Maurine from the Salt Lake City convenience store where she worked.

Her body was found in a remote picnic area in Big Cottonwood Canyon, about 15 miles from where she was taken. She had been strangled and her throat was cut. At the time of his arrest, police found her wallet and other belongings on Menzies. This, along with other evidence, led to his conviction for first-degree murder and several other charges, which resulted in a death sentence.

Now 67 years old, Menzies has been appealing his case for many years, which has delayed his execution. Over time, his lawyers have raised concerns about his mental state, arguing that he has developed dementia and is no longer mentally capable of understanding the reason for his punishment.

They say his condition continues to worsen and that he suffers from serious memory loss and cognitive decline. According to U.S. law, a person cannot be executed if they don’t fully understand the reason for their punishment, because doing so would be considered cruel and unconstitutional.

Despite these arguments, a judge named Matthew Bates ruled in June that Menzies is still mentally aware enough to be executed. The judge stated that Menzies continues to understand why he is being punished and that there has not been enough evidence to show that his mental condition has declined to the point that it would violate his rights. The judge signed the death warrant, setting the official execution date.

Even with the execution date set, the legal process is not over. The court is scheduled to reexamine Menzies’ mental competency on July 23. His lawyer, Lindsey Layer, is holding out hope that the court or the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will recognize the inhumanity of executing someone who is not mentally well.

She argues that taking the life of a man who has a terminal illness and whose mind has been taken over by dementia is not only unnecessary, but deeply cruel. She emphasizes that Menzies no longer poses a threat to anyone, and that killing him now accomplishes nothing meaningful in terms of justice.

Maurine Hunsaker’s family feels differently. Her son, Matt, was just 10 years old when she was killed. Now an adult, he has spent most of his life waiting for justice. He believes that unless Menzies is executed, justice will never truly be served.

Matt said that finally setting a date for the execution means the long wait may be coming to an end. He explained that another generation of his family has grown up hearing about what happened, and they are all still waiting for closure.

For him and his family, the execution is not about revenge, but about putting an end to the decades of legal delays and emotional pain. They see it as the final step in a long and painful journey that began the day Maurine was taken from them.

This case continues to stir debate, with strong feelings on both sides—some seeing the execution as justice finally being done, and others questioning whether it’s right to kill a man who may no longer even understand that it’s happening.