Campaigning journalist Don Hale faced the ultimate challenge when he was asked to appeal for clemency for a convicted killer – facing a lethal injection this week on America’s Death Row.

A top defence attorney contacted Don a fortnight ago after the US Supreme Court narrowly rejected a final appeal for Walter Mickens – who has spent more than nine years in his death cell – by 5-4 to uphold his execution.

Don, the former editor of the Matlock Mercury, said: “It came as quite a surprise when lawyer Kieron Johnson suddenly made contact and was desperate for my help – stating his client had just days to live.

“He told me he had spoken with barristers in London and had heard about my work for Stephen Downing and claimed I was his last hope to seek clemency.”

The Mickens case is probably one of America’s most controversial, with defence lawyers describing the final verdict as ‘one of the fastest-ever execution dates in modern history.’

Mickens (47), had pleaded not guilty, lost his final appeal and now faces a death sentence tonight.

The decision to execute him was widely condemned by US prosecution and defence experts alike and left the top legal minds in the land bitterly divided over this unprecedented conflict.

Don said: “I told them to concentrate on persuading the State Governor to agree to a stay of execution. I quickly reviewed the case on the web and told him I would give it my best shot.

“I then spoke with fellow campaigning groups nationwide and sent Kieron an immediate letter of support, telling the US authorities that I had worked on several other miscarriages cases – and that mistakes can and do happen.”

This week, with just a few hours to go, international legal experts and hardened campaigners joined forces to try to halt Mickens imminent execution, claiming he was uniquely denied a fair trial.

But unless State governor Mark Warner is persuaded by persistent legal argument, Walter Mickens junior will be given a lethal injection at 9pm EST on Wednesday, inside the special Death House at Greensville Correction Center, Virginia.