Former Fla. police officer scheduled for execution

TAMPA (AP) — A former Florida police officer is scheduled to be executed for killing nine people in 1986.

The lethal injection of Manuel Pardo, 56, is set for Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison unless he wins an appeal.

Prosecutors said Pardo robbed drug dealers and then killed them and witnesses. Pardo admitted to the killings, saying he was ridding the streets of the "scum of the Earth."

Lawyers for Pardo have argued that state courts failed to provide a meaningful review of his challenge to changes in Florida's three-drug lethal injection cocktail. They also contend psychiatric and competency information about Pardo was never forwarded to the state Executive Clemency Board.

The state argues that Pardo's constitutional rights were not violated.