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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Georgia death row inmate executed | Georgia death row inmate executed |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A convicted murderer has been executed in the US state of Georgia, after the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal. | A convicted murderer has been executed in the US state of Georgia, after the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal. |
| William Earl Lynd was put to death by lethal injection, making him the first prisoner to be executed in the US since last September. | |
| Executions had been halted while the Supreme Court considered whether lethal injections broke a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. | Executions had been halted while the Supreme Court considered whether lethal injections broke a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. |
| The court ruled last month that such executions were constitutional. | The court ruled last month that such executions were constitutional. |
| Mr Lynd, 53, was convicted of kidnapping and killing his girlfriend nearly 20 years ago. | Mr Lynd, 53, was convicted of kidnapping and killing his girlfriend nearly 20 years ago. |
| Both the Georgia Supreme Court, and the US Supreme Court, rejected his appeal for a stay of execution. | Both the Georgia Supreme Court, and the US Supreme Court, rejected his appeal for a stay of execution. |
| Doubts raised | Doubts raised |
| Lethal injection is used by 37 of 38 American states which have the death sentence on their statute books. | Lethal injection is used by 37 of 38 American states which have the death sentence on their statute books. |
| The inmate is given three drugs - a sedative, another that paralyses all muscles except the heart and a final drug which stops the heart, causing death. | The inmate is given three drugs - a sedative, another that paralyses all muscles except the heart and a final drug which stops the heart, causing death. |
| Three drugs are given to prisoners being executed by lethal injection | Three drugs are given to prisoners being executed by lethal injection |
| States began using the injections in 1978 as an alternative to previously used methods of execution such as electrocution. | States began using the injections in 1978 as an alternative to previously used methods of execution such as electrocution. |
| Concerns were raised about lethal injection recently when it was discovered that some prisoners were taking up to 30 minutes to die instead of 15. | Concerns were raised about lethal injection recently when it was discovered that some prisoners were taking up to 30 minutes to die instead of 15. |
| A 2005 study also sparked controversy by suggesting the amount of sedation given might not be enough to stop the inmate feeling the painful effects of the other drugs - but would prevent him crying out. | A 2005 study also sparked controversy by suggesting the amount of sedation given might not be enough to stop the inmate feeling the painful effects of the other drugs - but would prevent him crying out. |
| The US Supreme Court case against lethal injection was made by two death row inmates in Kentucky. | The US Supreme Court case against lethal injection was made by two death row inmates in Kentucky. |