Supreme Court clears way for Va. man's execution

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a convicted killer on Virginia's death row, clearing the way for his execution.

The justices on Monday said they would no longer block the state from executing Paul Warner Powell, who was convicted of killing 16-year-old Stacie Reed and raping her 14-year-old sister, Kristie, in their Manassas, Va., home in 1999.

The high court temporarily delayed Powell's execution by electrocution in July to consider whether to hear his argument that he was unconstitutionally tried twice for killing Reed after describing the crime in a taunting letter to a prosecutor.

The justices, without comment, decided not to hear the appeal.

-- Associated Press