Washington -
A black inmate on death row who claims he had a clandestine relationship with a white woman, but did not rape or kill her, wants the US Supreme Court to take his case.
Rodney Reed says his trial lawyers did a poor job of defending him.
Reed suggests that the victim's fiancé - a police officer now in prison for a sex crime - could have been the killer.
A judge has set Reed's execution for January 14.
Reed claims he had a secret affair with Stacey Stites - yet at first he denied knowing her.
That's one of the many unusual and sometimes conflicting aspects of his case.
It has aroused passionate support from those who believe he's innocent, and equally fervent cries that he should be put to death. - Sapa-AP