Driver on death row for double murder of bosses resists hearing that could save him

A truck driver incarcerated for the murder of two people does not wish to pursue a hearing that could remove him from death row. 

60-year-old Calvin Neyland was convicted of the 2007 murder of Douglas Smith and Thomas Lazar, branch manager and safety director at Liberty Trucking, near Wood County, Ohio, where Neyland was employed as a driver, reported Sentinel-Tribune.

Neyland was sentenced to death row in 2008, and has remained there since. Now, a change in Ohio law allows convicts to request a competency hearing with a potential to alter their sentence. However, Neyland’s attorney says that Neyland does not wish to participate in such a hearing, meaning he is essentially choosing to remain on death row. 

Despite Neyland’s wishes, his attorney has requested a hearing that could change his sentence from death to life in prison. Before that hearing can be scheduled, and before Neyland can even decline the hearing, Neyland must first attend a separate hearing to determine if he is competent enough to make the decision to decline, reported WTOL11.

During his initial trial, Neyland reportedly showed little to no remorse for the murders, stating that “I can tell you from facts that Douglas Smith and Tom Lazar are not here to take responsibility for what they did prior to August the 8th and what led up to August the 8th.”

Neyland is scheduled for the initial competency hearing on Monday, October 21st.