A Jewish inmate on death row in Kentucky has reportedly taken legal action after being refused kosher food. William Harry Meece says he was removed from the prison's kosher list after eating unsupervised rotisserie chicken, according to the Courier-Journal.

Meece, who was convicted of a triple murder ten years ago but professes his innocence, belonged to a Reform synagogue. His argument is that while Orthodox Jews must eat meat with a hechsher, Reform Jews enjoy greater freedom and need only abstain from shellfish or pork.

The prison service has an interest in reducing the number of kosher meals; they cost 72 per cent more than their non-kosher equivalent.