The Sunday Arizona Republic publishes the OpEd, "2-hour execution needs an independent review," by Paul Charlton, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, and Rick Romley, a former Maricopa County Attorney.
On July 23, Arizona joined the list of states that have recently had inhumane and perhaps unconstitutional executions when the death of Joseph Rudolph Wood by lethal injection took almost two hours to complete.
There is much we don't know about the death of Wood, but one thing we do know is that an independent investigation is needed to get to the bottom of what went so terribly wrong and how can we prevent it from happening again.
"Investigation or whitewash? DOC's review of execution," is by Arizona Republic columnist EJ Montini.
Following the long, ugly execution of Joseph Wood, Gov. Jan Brewer issued a statement that read in part, "While justice was carried out today, I directed the Department of Corrections to conduct a full review of the process. One thing is certain, however, inmate Wood died in a lawful manner and by eyewitness and medical accounts he did not suffer."
Really? DOC should investigate DOC? Even after Director CharlesRyan already said publicly that the execution was not botched?
Gee, I wonder what the department's findings will be?
Democratic State Sen. Ed Ableser released statement Friday calling for an independent investigation.
It's what the governor should have demanded from the start. And what the rest of us should demand now.
Earlier coverage of Arizona's botched execution begins at the link.
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