Virginia says execution of killer William Morva to proceed

(Reuters) - The scheduled execution of convicted killer William Morva will go ahead on Thursday despite widespread pleas that he should be spared on grounds of mental illness, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.

Morva, 35, was convicted for shooting an unarmed security guard and a sheriff's deputy in 2006 while trying to escape from custody.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Chris Reese)