Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has delayed the October 5 execution of a former Army intelligence worker from Maryland convicted of killing a northern Virginia couple.

On Friday, Kaine delayed the execution until November 17 because he said he needed more time to review Larry Bill Elliott's clemency petition.

The 59-year-old was convicted in the January 2001 shooting deaths of 25-year-old Dana Thrall and 30-year-old Robert Finch.

Prosecutors said Elliott killed the couple because he was jealous of Finch, who was involved in a custody dispute with a former stripper with whom Elliott was romantically involved at the time.

Two separate juries convicted Elliott of the killings. The first verdict in 2002 was set aside because a juror improperly discussed the case with someone outside the court. He was convicted again a year later.

Kaine issued the following statement Friday on his decision:

“Larry Bill Elliott was convicted of the capital murder of Dana Thrall and first degree murder of Robert Finch on March 24, 2003. He was sentenced to death for the murder of Dana Thrall and received a life sentence for the murder of Robert Finch.

“State and federal courts have consistently upheld Elliott’s convictions.

“Given the nature of these crimes and the facts that were presented at trial, I have no reason to question the prosecutor’s decision to seek the death penalty or the jury’s decision that death was an appropriate sentence. He is scheduled to be executed on October 5, 2009.

“Claiming innocence of the crime for which he was convicted, Elliott has petitioned me to commute his sentence of death to a sentence of life in prison. This petition was filed with my office on August 28, 2009.

“My office thoroughly reviews each clemency request for a reprieve from capital punishment. This duty is imperative given the irreversible nature of an execution.

“Due to the complicated nature of this case, more time is necessary for me to review this clemency petition. Accordingly, I am hereby granting a delay of Elliott’s execution date until November 17, 2009.”

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