From Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch carries, "Examine lethal-injection procedures, legislator says," written by Alan Johnson.
Rep. W. Carlton Weddington, a Columbus Democrat, asked Gov. John Kasich on Monday to take a close look at execution procedures in line with a recent court decision and resulting delays.
"I am concerned that now, after the second delayed execution, Gov. Kasich and Director (Gary) Mohr have not done more to address this very sensitive issue," Weddington said in a statement. "The citizens of Ohio need justice that is fair and balanced but also humane and cost-effective. Today, I raise the question of, is lethal injection the right form of justice, and how do we administer it in the best possible way?"
Weddington is a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee and the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.
Two scheduled executions have been postponed because of a federal judge's decision calling Ohio's adherence to its execution procedures "haphazard."
After courts rejected a lethal injection challenge, Delaware carried out its first exeuction since 2005, this morning. The AP report is, "Delaware man executed for woman's 1992 ax slaying," via USA Today.
Robert Jackson III was pronounced dead at 12:12 a.m. after being given a lethal injection at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.
And:
When the execution began, Jackson started making a snoring sound, his lips sputtered and his breath began to quicken. Prison officials closed the curtain between the execution chamber and witnesses after about four minutes to check whether he was conscious, calling out twice, "Inmate Jackson, can you hear me?" There was no response.
When the curtain reopened a minute later, Jackson made no more movements or sounds. From start to finish, the execution took about 10 minutes.
The Wilmington News Journal has extensive coverage, "Jackson put to death by lethal injection, written by Esteban Parra, Beth Miller, Adam Taylor, and Kim Manahan.
Jackson was the first person put to death in Delaware since Brian D. Steckel on Nov. 4, 2005. He is the 15th person put to death in Delaware since 1992, the year that marked Delaware's first execution since the state reinstated the death penalty in 1961.
"The state of Delaware this morning carried out the penalty for Robert W. Jackson III for the brutal murder of Elizabeth Girardi," Gov. Jack Markell said in a statement." Mr. Jackson's death sentence was recommended by a jury, imposed by a judge, and reviewed by state and federal appellate courts at all levels. It is my prayer that his victim rests in peace and her family finds some closure. May God have mercy on Mr. Jackson."
Markell had earlier rejected a request by Jackson's attorneys for a reprieve for their client.
And:
Jackson's attorneys continued to maintain his innocence after the execution was announced.
"The state of Delaware executed an innocent man tonight and ought to be ashamed of itself," said Shawn Nolan, one of Jackson's lawyers. "Bobby was a good man. He didn't kill Elizabeth Girardi. .. Our condolences to the Girardi family who have had to live with this nightmare for years. Bobby was always sorry that he participated in the burglary that ended in such a terrible way."
Marc Bookman, executive director of the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, a nonprofit that backed Jackson, also said he was not Girardi's killer.
"Later evidence showed he was an innocent man, and he never got one single chance to present that evidence in a court of law," he said in a statement.
The Delaware execution was the 30th in the nation this year; the 1,263rd post-Furman execution in America since 1977.
Earlier lethal injection coverage from Delaware and Ohio begins at the links. Related posts are in the lethal injection index.
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