UPDATE: Lawyers for the man who raped and murdered a local woman almost 40 years ago will be in court on Wednesday for a hearing about his pending execution.

Harold Wayne Nichols is set to be put to death on December 11 for the 1988 rape and murder of a 21-year-old woman from Chattanooga.

His attorneys are arguing for the release of records from previous executions after Nichols declined to choose between lethal injection and the electric chair earlier this month.

Nichols cited concerns that previous inmates experienced pain during their execution.

He has also asked Governor Bill Lee to grant him clemency and is seeking life without the chance of parole.

The hearing is scheduled to start at 1:30pm in Knoxville.

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