Opinion ID: 1423838
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Procedural history of this action

Text: Parkus subsequently filed a motion to recall this Court's mandate in State v. Parkus and an alternative petition for writ of habeas corpus. This Court noted the pendency of the action in Washington County. It then treated Parkus' filings as a petition for a writ of mandamus to decide Parkus' mental fitness for execution (which had been pending without decision since 2000) and ordered the circuit court also to finally determine whether Parkus had a mental disease or defect pursuant to section 552.060 and whether Parkus had mental retardation excluding him from fitness for execution pursuant to section 565.030. The circuit court bifurcated the hearings on the issues of whether Parkus was competent to be executed and whether he was mentally retarded. The circuit court subsequently issued its order and judgment finding that Parkus was mentally retarded, and therefore it would be cruel and unusual punishment to inflict the death penalty upon him. The court stated that Parkus should be resentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of probation, parole, or release, except by act of the governor. The state now appeals.