Ohio lethal injection takes 2 hours, 10 tries
bryn_cmbs
Posts: 407
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/05/25/ohio.execution.ap/index.html
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Death penalty opponents called on the state to halt executions after prison staff struggled to find suitable veins on a condemned man's arm to deliver the lethal chemicals.
The execution team stuck Christopher Newton at least 10 times with needles Thursday to insert the shunts where the chemicals are injected.
He died at 11:53 a.m., nearly two hours after the scheduled start of his execution at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. The process typically takes about 20 minutes.
"What is clear from today's botched execution is that the state doesn't know how to execute people without torturing them to death," American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio attorney Carrie Davis said Thursday.
"Having one botched execution is too many; that Ohio has now had two botched executions in as many years is intolerable."
Officials said the delay was due to Newton's size -- he weighed 265 pounds. In May 2006, the execution of Joseph Lewis Clark was delayed about 90 minutes because the team could not find a suitable vein. He was a longtime intravenous drug user.
A group of Ohio inmates is suing over the state's injection method, saying it is unconstitutionally cruel, and Thursday's delay helps show that the state is unable to smoothly complete executions, said Greg Meyers, chief counsel for the Public Defender's Office.
"There will be a day in trial that they will have to answer up as to what caused this two-hour delay," he said. "That's a lot of time messing around trying to get a needle in a vein."
But Newton, who had had insisted on the death penalty as punishment and made no attempt to appeal, chatted and laughed with prison staff throughout the delay. It took so long that the staff paused to allow Newton a bathroom break.
Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who took office in January, said every precaution was taken to make sure Newton was treated respectfully and was not in pain. He said he understood why death penalty opponents wanted a moratorium, but "I think what happened today is not any supporting justification for that."
He was put to death for beating and choking cell mate Jason Brewer, 27, in 2001 after they argued during a chess game. He had slammed Brewer's head onto the floor, stomped his throat and cut a piece from his orange prison suit to strangle him.
Problems with injection executions have caused delays in other states, including one in Florida last December that prompted Gov. Jeb Bush to suspend executions as a commission examines its procedures.
In a statement read by a lawyer after his death, Newton, 37, apologized to Brewer's family and his own. But the only thing Newton said in the death chamber was: "Yes, boy, I could sure go for some beef stew and a chicken bone. That's it."
A decision was made not to intervene when the execution was delayed because Newton wanted to die and "our job ... (is) to represent our clients," Meyers said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Death penalty opponents called on the state to halt executions after prison staff struggled to find suitable veins on a condemned man's arm to deliver the lethal chemicals.
The execution team stuck Christopher Newton at least 10 times with needles Thursday to insert the shunts where the chemicals are injected.
He died at 11:53 a.m., nearly two hours after the scheduled start of his execution at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. The process typically takes about 20 minutes.
"What is clear from today's botched execution is that the state doesn't know how to execute people without torturing them to death," American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio attorney Carrie Davis said Thursday.
"Having one botched execution is too many; that Ohio has now had two botched executions in as many years is intolerable."
Officials said the delay was due to Newton's size -- he weighed 265 pounds. In May 2006, the execution of Joseph Lewis Clark was delayed about 90 minutes because the team could not find a suitable vein. He was a longtime intravenous drug user.
A group of Ohio inmates is suing over the state's injection method, saying it is unconstitutionally cruel, and Thursday's delay helps show that the state is unable to smoothly complete executions, said Greg Meyers, chief counsel for the Public Defender's Office.
"There will be a day in trial that they will have to answer up as to what caused this two-hour delay," he said. "That's a lot of time messing around trying to get a needle in a vein."
But Newton, who had had insisted on the death penalty as punishment and made no attempt to appeal, chatted and laughed with prison staff throughout the delay. It took so long that the staff paused to allow Newton a bathroom break.
Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who took office in January, said every precaution was taken to make sure Newton was treated respectfully and was not in pain. He said he understood why death penalty opponents wanted a moratorium, but "I think what happened today is not any supporting justification for that."
He was put to death for beating and choking cell mate Jason Brewer, 27, in 2001 after they argued during a chess game. He had slammed Brewer's head onto the floor, stomped his throat and cut a piece from his orange prison suit to strangle him.
Problems with injection executions have caused delays in other states, including one in Florida last December that prompted Gov. Jeb Bush to suspend executions as a commission examines its procedures.
In a statement read by a lawyer after his death, Newton, 37, apologized to Brewer's family and his own. But the only thing Newton said in the death chamber was: "Yes, boy, I could sure go for some beef stew and a chicken bone. That's it."
A decision was made not to intervene when the execution was delayed because Newton wanted to die and "our job ... (is) to represent our clients," Meyers said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Comments
Question: Is there any form of humane execution?
Question: Do you believe in putting pets to sleep?
www.myspace.com/jensvad
how is that remotely related?
Just wondering if those who think executing the scum of the earth is inhumane, how exactly they feel about euthanizing animals, since thats basically an execution, and if they consider it any different. What are you, the pit police?>
www.myspace.com/jensvad
As a form of punishment? No, not really. Usually, if a dog shits on the carpet they get a swat with a mag right after they do it.
No
....and if there was, it would still be wrong.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
no ... not the pit police ... i just don't see the connection ...
we euthanize pets to end their suffering ... we euthanize inmates for a crime they commit ... completely different ...
Actually, when it comes to euthanasia, I'm for a family or a patient being able to choose rather or not a person can be euthanized. I don't see it as a proper punishment for a crime.
I think putting an animal down to put it out of its misery is very comparable to putting down a "human animal" to end his/her suffering. I dont think all executions are just as "punishment", as much as to relieve society of that particular sick animal. Some people(animals) aren't going to be rehabbed, and most criminals/sickos want to be caught. They suffer in their own heads. Not much different than putting down fluffy cuz she's old and crazy. IMO.
www.myspace.com/jensvad
One of the things that bothers me the most about capital punishment is that it promotes and reinforces the concept of revenge.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
So having the human animal locked away for the rest of their life isn't enough for a society to feel safe, that same animal must be executed just to satisfy the society's failing sense of security.
Or maybe death by gunshot. Back of the head. They don't call it execution-style for nothin'.
Any of these methods would be more humane than what we currently use.
Yep, 1 bullet....that's my vote.
Wow, I like your style.
state facility staff hell they probably just don't know or have enough experience finding veins or administering iv's ......