Judge rejects Thanos relatives appeal in Maryland
Leonardtown Maryland AP judge Audrey Melbourne ruled that the mother and sister of triple murderer John F Thanos lack standing to file a post conviction appeal to halt the execution set for the week of May 16 The ruling keeps Thanos on track for Maryland s first execution since 1961 while federal defenders plan an appeal to the Maryland Court of Appeals Thanos has repeatedly waived further appeals and in letters criticized the legal move by his family and the federal defenders