New execution date set for Danville killer

The Associated Press
Published: May 29, 2008

A July 24 execution date was set for convicted killer Christopher Scott Emmett on Thursday in Danville Circuit Court.

Emmett’s execution was one of several stayed while the U.S. Supreme Court decided if lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. He still contends that Virginia’s method is wrong because there is no guarantee that a sufficient amount of drugs, especially anesthesia, will be used when he is put to death.

Christopher Scott Emmett is charged in the April 2001 bludgeoning death of co-worker and friend John Fenton Langley.

Emmett and Langley were roommates at the Innkeeper on Riverside Drive as a part of a roofing crew that was working at Southern Processing in Danville.

The Innkeeper desk clerk said Emmett came to the front desk after midnight and asked her to call the police. Emmett can be heard on the 911 tape of his call saying there is blood everywhere in his room.

Langley was found dead by police. He was lying face down on the bed with his head bashed in. A brass lamp, badly damaged and covered with blood, was found under Langley’s bed. Emmett attacked Langley because he would not give him money for drugs.

In court in October 2001, Emmett said he first took the shade off a brass lamp in the room. He said he then unscrewed the light bulb and hit Langley in the head five or six times with the base of the lamp. Emmett said he then took Langley’s wallet out of his pocket.

Several other members of the roofing crew testified that Langley often lent money to his co-workers.

Emmett and Michael Pittman, also known as “Money Mike,” borrowed money from the victim several times that night and used some of the money to buy crack cocaine, Pittman testified.

Emmett was convicted of the murder and was sentenced to death on Nov. 2, 2001.

Emmett’s execution was set for June 13 of last year, but Gov. Timothy Kaine stayed the execution to let the Supreme Court review the case.

On Oct. 1, the Supreme Court declined to review the case, but Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul Stevens said, except for Gov. Kaine’s action, the state tried to cut short the ability of the court to review Emmett’s appeal.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell asked the Supreme Court to remove the stay of execution against Emmett in a motion filed April 21. The Supreme Court lifted the stay on May 19.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Emmett’s case May 14 and attorneys expected a decision within 60 days.