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Judge OKs Execution Of South Dakota Man In 1993 Slaying

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota judge has signed off on the execution of a man convicted of stabbing a former co-worker to death 27 years ago during a burglary at a doughnut shop.

Judge Robert Mandel granted a motion Tuesday for an early November execution for Charles Rhines.

Rhines was convicted of stabbing 22-year-old Donnivan Schaeffer to death in 1993 while burglarizing a Rapid City doughnut shop.

Schaeffer's mother Peggy said the green light for Rhines' execution is a big step toward justice for her son.

The Rapid City Journal reported that Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg argued for proceeding with the execution, noting that Rhines has been fighting the case five years longer than his victim was alive. The U.S. Supreme Court announced in April it wouldn't consider Rhines' case.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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