Billy Ray Irick (photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Correction)
The state Supreme Court has denied a child killer's request to put off his execution date.
Billy Ray Irick was convicted for the 1985 rape and murder of 7 year old Paula Dyer in Knoxville.
He was babysitting the girl, while her mother was at work.
On Friday, the state's high court said his execution should go on as scheduled, on December 7th.
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The state Supreme Court has set a Dec. 7 execution date for Billy Ray Irick.
Irick was convicted of raping and killing a 7-year-old Knoxville girl he had been baby-sitting in 1985.
The court rejected an appeal from Irick's attorneys to issue a certificate of commutation. They had argued he was insane at the time of the crime.
In support, they introduced affidavits from the victim's stepfamily recounting Irick's bizarre behavior in the days before the slaying. That includes Irick chasing a girl he did not know down the street with a machete because he "didn't like her looks" and telling people he was "taking instructions from the devil."
While setting an execution date, the court also ordered a hearing in the Knox County Criminal Court to determine whether Irick is competent to be executed. Those proceedings must conclude within 55 days.