Oregon Public Broadcasting

New evidence has emerged in the case of Washington state's condemned double murder Darold Stenson. He is scheduled to be executed at Walla Walla state prison December 3rd.  Patricia Murphy Reports.

Darold Stenson is on Washington's death row after being convicted of aggravated murder in the 1993 shooting deaths of his wife and a business partner.

Lawyers for Stenson say the new witness appeared at the Clallam County prosecutor's office last Friday.

According to Stenson Attorney Sheryl McCloud, the witness claimed that he had information about another person who'd confessed to him that they played a role in the murders that Stenson was convicted of.

Stenson's lawyers want the judge to consider this new evidence.

Meantime, the state's Catholic bishops are asking Governor Chris Gregoire to commute Stenson's death sentence. The bishops made the request in a letter to Gregoire on Friday.

The Governor's office did not immediately respond.

Superior Court Judge Ken Williams says he will issue his ruling Tuesday.