David Gore: Florida justices refuse to stay execution

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Supreme Court has refused to stay serial killer David Gore's execution. He is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday.

The justices on Monday unanimously rejected several arguments by Gore's lawyers.

That includes their contention a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision dealing with ineffective counsel applies to his case.

The state justices ruled that opinion appears to apply only to federal rather than state court proceedings.

One of Gore's lawyers said even prior to Monday's decision that the case next would go to federal court if the state justices refused to block the execution.

Gore is to be executed for murdering a 17-year-old girl in Indian River County nearly 30 years ago. He also is serving life terms for killing five other girls or women.