The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to delay Tuesday's scheduled execution of a Maryland man convicted of killing a northern Virginia couple to impress a former stripper with whom he was obsessed.

Larry Bill Elliott, a former Army counterintelligence worker, was convicted in Virginia in the 2001 shooting deaths of 25-year-old Dana Thrall and 30-year-old Robert Finch.

Lawyers for the 60-year-old Elliott said in court papers Friday that the execution should be stayed until the Supreme Court decides whether to consider the Hanover, Maryland man's appeal.

Prosecutors said Elliott was romantically involved with Rebecca Gragg, who was involved in a bitter child custody dispute with Finch. Elliott claims his trial lawyers were improperly restricted in questioning Gragg, who testified for the prosecution.

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