1.   Fitzpatrick said he agreed with the ruling denying the mercy plea, which was made by Judge William Burke of Onondaga County Court.

2.   Judges in New York have reached different conclusions about whether mercy pleas are permitted.

3.   Two of the six defendants who have been sentenced to die did not ask to make mercy pleas.

4.   President Sharma had earlier rejected a mercy plea.

5.   The death penalty was carried out after President Shahabuddin Ahmed rejected a mercy plea from his family and the Supreme Court upheld the lower court verdict.