Missouri high court refuses to block execution

The Missouri Supreme Court has denied a request to block an execution scheduled next week.

Martin Link is to be executed Feb. 9 for the 1991 death of an 11-year-old St. Louis girl.

Link's attorneys had requested the stay, arguing his initial lawyers were ineffective and did not thoroughly examine reasons he should not be executed.

In court documents, they contend a thorough investigation would have shown that Link was abused as a child and had post-traumatic stress disorder from the abuse.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the request from Link's attorneys.

Missouri has carried out 67 executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1989 but only one in the past five years.