Here's the latest from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Gov. Ted Strickland orders a temporary halt to the planned execution of Romell Broom," written by Peter Krouse.
Gov. Ted Strickland took an unprecedented step and ordered a temporary halt to the planned execution of Romell Broom Tuesday after the execution team could not administer the lethal injection.
For more than two hours, the team attempted to insert two shunts into a vein of the compliant Broom, who tried several times to assist his executioners by shifting positions, rubbing his arm and pointing out possible usable veins.
The delay will likely add to the debate about the death penalty in Ohio and what constitutes cruel and usual punishment.
"The sentence is death, not torture plus death," said Kathleen Soltis, chairwoman of the Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "What does reprieve mean in this case? This is getting crazier than usual."
At one point, Broom, 53, lay back on his bed, covered his face with his hands, and cried. Another time, while sitting up, he was seen grimacing as the execution team appeared to seek a vein around his ankles.
"Governor delays Ohio execution after vein trouble," is the AP report, via Cleveland.com.
Gov. Ted Strickland has delayed an execution after the Ohio execution team had problems finding the inmate's veins.
Strickland ordered a week-long reprieve Tuesday afternoon after executioners struggled for about two hours to locate suitable veins for inserting IVs into 53-year-old Romell Broom.
The team began working on Broom, in a holding cell 17 steps from the execution chamber, shortly after 2 p.m.
No Ohio governor has issued a similar last-minute reprieve since the state resumed executions in 1999.
More in this post.
Comments