A death row inmate who raped and killed a teenage girl has seen his execution delayed just hours before it was due to take place.
Wesley Purkey was set to die on Wednesday in what would have been the second federal execution in 17 years, but for the last minute actions of a Washington judge.
The 68-year-old was convicted in 2003 of violently raping and murdering Jennifer Long, aged 16, before dumping her dismembered and burned remains in a septic pond.
Long had skipped school on the January morning in 1998 when she was lured into the pickup truck of Purkey, a stranger who was high on crack.
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