Morning Round-up: Georgia’s latest execution, Billy Hawk Pre-trial Hearing & The Bible

Georgia has executed a man who was convicted of the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old woman during a 1996 crime spree. Kenneth Fults was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. at the state prison in Jackson after Fults received a lethal injection. The 47-year-old Fults had pleaded guilty to killing his neighbor Cathy Bounds during a burglary in 1996. He’s the fourth person executed in Georgia this year.

Lawyers for suspected cold case killer Billy Hawk want the case dismissed. They argued during a pre-trial hearing that evidence in the 35-year old murder case was destroyed. A metal barrel Johnny Mack Salyer’s body was found stuffed in was crushed years ago. X-ray’s of Salyer’s body from 1981 also can’t be found.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says he won’t wait the full ten-days to decide whether to sign or veto a bill seeking to make the Bible the official book of the state. Haslam, who has expressed reservations about the bill, says he will announce his decision before the end of this week.