Judge Stays Execution for Man Who Killed University of Delaware Student

A judge has delayed the scheduled execution of a man convicted of raping and killing a University of Delaware student.

New Castle County Superior Court Judge William C. Carpenter Jr., who set the Dec. 4 execution date for 43-year-old James E. Cooke, signed the order delaying the execution on Wednesday.

Cooke was convicted of the 2005 murder of 20-year-old Lindsey Bonistall of White Plains, New York.

The News Journal of Wilmington reports that Carpenter delayed the execution so the U.S. Supreme Court can consider Cooke appeal. His attorneys argue that Cooke should have been given more time to prepare for trial after he fired his court-appointed attorneys to represent himself.

The Delaware Attorney General's Office has until Nov. 26 to respond to the order.