COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Parole Board is recommending mercy for an obese death row inmate based on claims raising doubts about his legal representation, not about his weight.

Attorneys for inmate Ronald Post said assertions that he confessed to the 1983 slaying of a motel clerk have been falsely exaggerated and questioned how his original lawyers handled his no contest plea.

The parole board voted 5-3 Friday to recommend that Gov. John Kasich grant Post clemency.

The ruling did not address Post’s claim that he is so obese he can’t be humanely executed. He weighs about 450 pounds.

A federal judge was to hear arguments in Post’s obesity claim on Monday.

Post was sentenced to die for shooting Helen Vantz in Elyria during a robbery.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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