Hunt's lawyer argued that state law requires the use of twotypes of drugs - a fast-acting barbiturate and a paralytic agent.Attorney Steven Holley said the state illegally added potassiumchloride, which stops the heart, to the mixture.
Locklear had ruled that the state Supreme Court should have time to review whether the stateshould only use two drugs, not the three it now uses, for lethalinjections.
The use of the word "only" when describing the lethalinjection process "does not reflect a legislative intent to limitthe drugs or chemicals that can be used during a lethal injectionexecution, but rather limits the method of execution in NorthCarolina solely to lethal injection instead of asphyxiation bylethal gas or some other method," the court ruled Thursday.
The court also denied Hunt's innocence claim.
Hunt's attorneys also have filed an innocence claim with theU.S. Supreme Court, attorney Stuart Meiklejohn said. Other thanthat, "it will be in Gov. Easley's hands, and we're hopeful he'llsee merit in our clemency petition," he said.
Easley has yet to decide on clemency for Hunt.
"I'm thoroughly familiar with with case. I've been through not only the briefs, the hearings and meetings with the attorneys and family," he said.
State prosecutors and Robeson County District Johnson Britt didnot immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Hunt, 58, was sentenced to death for two Robeson County killingsin 1984, but he has maintained his innocence.
"I'll maintain my innocence till the day I die," he said.
This is the second time that Hunt's execution has been delayed.
It was originally scheduled for January but was stopped whenlawyers challenged the state's indictment form. The state SupremeCourt ultimately ruled the form constitutional.
His lawyers raised the same issue Wednesday in a petition to theU.S. Supreme Court.
Jurors convicted Hunt in the death of Jackie Ransom, whose wifepaid to have him killed to make her second marriage legal. He alsowas convicted of killing Larry Jones, a police informantprosecutors said knew about Ransom's killing.
Four other people were sentenced to prison for their roles inthe killings. All but one has since died.
Hunt's lawyers said Wednesday night they planned to seek a fullDNA report from the state on a cigarette butt for use in a possibleappeal.
The butt, which prosecutors have said linked Hunt to the crime,was tested by a state lab last week, but no DNA could be recovered.
Holley has said he wants a more thorough DNA test performed todetermine if there is any genetic material on the butt.
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