A murderer has begged the state of Arizona to end his life - 18 years after he was condemned for the murder of his girlfriend's ex-husband.
Aaron Gunches was sentenced to death in 2010 for the December 2002 kidnap and murder of Ted Price after a huge fight broke out at his girlfriend's house.
But after years of failed appeals the killer filed a motion on November 25 to beg the state's supreme court to end his life "so that justice may be lawfully served and give closure to the victim's family."
The murder happened when Ted Price turned up to his his ex-wife Katherine Lecher's home, who Gunches was dating, in November 22.
During the 10 days together the pair scrapped and Lecher smashed Mr Price with a phone.
Hours later Gunches arrived to the home and asked Lecher's roommate, Jennifer Garcia, to drive him and Price to a nearby bus station.
Garcia drove the car to a nearby desert and stopped the car as Gunches looked in the boot.
Mr Price got out and Garcia heard three gunshots and saw Price fall to the ground.
The killer got back into the car and Garcia drove the pair back to the house before stopping to get rid of Price's possessions in a bin.
Price's body was found just days later by police.
In January 2003, Gunches was pulled over the near California boarder by Arizona DPS Robert Flannery who was shot twice but had sustained minor injuries.
He was immediately arrested.
Gunches, who represented himself in court, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and first degree murder turned down the opportunity to be represented by lawyers.
The state will respond to his plea on Wednesday.
If the death warrant is approved the execution would be delayed until Attorney General-elect Kris Mayes' and Governor-elect Katie Hobbs take over.
The current Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Governor Doug Ducey are set to leave office and the Gunches' eventual execution will be overseen by Governor-elect Hobbs.
In Arizona there are currently 110 prisoners on death row.
The state halted capital punishment in 2014 after the botched execution of Joseph Wood.
His execution lasted nearly two hours and needed 15 injections.
However, in May this year the executions were reinstated and three prisoners have since been killed.
