Condemned man won’t fight execution

CARSON CITY -- Death row inmate William Castillo, scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Oct. 15, probably will not be affected by a U.S. Supreme Court decision to consider whether lethal injection is cruel or unusual punishment, his attorney said Wednesday.

Castillo has waived his right to raise any further appeals on his own behalf, said Gary Taylor, an assistant federal public defender.

"He doesn't wish to raise any issues," Taylor said. "We're not anticipating challenging his waiver."

Nevada has used lethal injection to execute death row inmates since it was adopted by the Legislature in 1983. It was first used in 1985, and was last used to execute Daryl Mack in April 2006.

Taylor said the high court's decision to examine the method of execution is one of a number of possibilities that could be raised by Castillo to seek a stay of execution should he decide to change his mind.

Castillo, 35, was sentenced to death by a jury for the 1995 beating death of a retired Las Vegas teacher.

Castillo was working on the roof at Isabelle Berndt's home when he found a hidden house key. He later returned to the house with a female accomplice, burglarized the home and murdered Berndt, 86, with a tire iron.