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Lawyers fight to halt first executions since botched Oklahoma procedure Lawyers fight to halt first executions since botched Oklahoma procedure
(2 months later)
Lawyers across three states are scrambling to prevent a sudden flurry of three executions that would bring to an end a seven-week lull in judicial killings in the US following the gruesome botched procedure in Oklahoma in which a prisoner took 43 minutes to die.Lawyers across three states are scrambling to prevent a sudden flurry of three executions that would bring to an end a seven-week lull in judicial killings in the US following the gruesome botched procedure in Oklahoma in which a prisoner took 43 minutes to die.
State officials in Georgia are putting the final preparatory touches to the death chamber at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison ahead of the scheduled killing of Marcus Wellons, 59, at 7pm on Tuesday. His death would be the first completed execution in the US since that of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma on 29 April which caused revulsion around the world after the prisoner writhed and squirmed for a prolonged period on the gurney.State officials in Georgia are putting the final preparatory touches to the death chamber at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison ahead of the scheduled killing of Marcus Wellons, 59, at 7pm on Tuesday. His death would be the first completed execution in the US since that of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma on 29 April which caused revulsion around the world after the prisoner writhed and squirmed for a prolonged period on the gurney.
Wellons’ lawyers have appealed to the 11th circuit court of appeals calling for a stay of execution. Should that fail, they are likely to take their petition to the US supreme court, the highest panel of judges, in the hope of securing a last-minute postponement.Wellons’ lawyers have appealed to the 11th circuit court of appeals calling for a stay of execution. Should that fail, they are likely to take their petition to the US supreme court, the highest panel of judges, in the hope of securing a last-minute postponement.
Wellons’ petition for a postponement of his execution argues that he is being denied his constitutional rights to an execution free of cruel and unusual punishment because he is being withheld information about the medical drugs that will be used to kill him. The state has only revealed that it plans to use a large dose of pentobarbital, probably acquired to order form a compounding pharmacy that is unregulated by federal authorities. Wellons’ petition for a postponement of his execution argues that he is being denied his constitutional rights to an execution free of cruel and unusual punishment because he is being withheld information about the medical drugs that will be used to kill him. The state has only revealed that it plans to use a large dose of pentobarbital, probably acquired to order form a compounding pharmacy that is unregulated by federal authorities.
The prisoner’s lawyers complain that under a new law introduced in Georgia last year that classifies the identity of the supplier of its lethal injection drugs a “state secret” they are unable to gain essential knowledge that could prevent another botched execution like that in Oklahoma. They also say that the new secrets law prevents the courts themselves from fulfilling their central task – protecting the US constitution – because judges are also held in the dark about the nature and source of the lethal chemicals.The prisoner’s lawyers complain that under a new law introduced in Georgia last year that classifies the identity of the supplier of its lethal injection drugs a “state secret” they are unable to gain essential knowledge that could prevent another botched execution like that in Oklahoma. They also say that the new secrets law prevents the courts themselves from fulfilling their central task – protecting the US constitution – because judges are also held in the dark about the nature and source of the lethal chemicals.
Wellons was put on death row in 1993 for the rape and murder of a girl, Indiana Roberts, who was 15.Wellons was put on death row in 1993 for the rape and murder of a girl, Indiana Roberts, who was 15.
Just five hours after Wellons is scheduled to die, the state of Missouri is still intending to put to death John Winfield for murdering two women in 1996. The state is trying to have a stay of execution removed by appealing to the full panel of the 8th circuit appeals court. A smaller panel of the court, sitting with three judges on Monday night refused to remove the postponement that was granted by a lower court last week on grounds that a prison guard had been intimidated into dropping his testimony in favour of Winfield who he had been prepared to testify was a model prisoner.Just five hours after Wellons is scheduled to die, the state of Missouri is still intending to put to death John Winfield for murdering two women in 1996. The state is trying to have a stay of execution removed by appealing to the full panel of the 8th circuit appeals court. A smaller panel of the court, sitting with three judges on Monday night refused to remove the postponement that was granted by a lower court last week on grounds that a prison guard had been intimidated into dropping his testimony in favour of Winfield who he had been prepared to testify was a model prisoner.
If state attorneys succeed in persuading the 8th circuit appeals court to remove the stay and allow Winfield’s execution to go ahead, it would be the fifth in Missouri in 2014 alone. The state has shown a determination since last November to execute a prisoner every month – a rate that would set it towards the top of the execution league tale in America.If state attorneys succeed in persuading the 8th circuit appeals court to remove the stay and allow Winfield’s execution to go ahead, it would be the fifth in Missouri in 2014 alone. The state has shown a determination since last November to execute a prisoner every month – a rate that would set it towards the top of the execution league tale in America.
Missouri has also shrouded its lethal injection drugs in secrecy, having extended the definition of its execution team whose identity is kept confidential to include compounding pharmacies. The Guardian and other news outlets have challenged the secrecy rules in Missouri on grounds that they violate the public’s right to know how the government is acting in their name.Missouri has also shrouded its lethal injection drugs in secrecy, having extended the definition of its execution team whose identity is kept confidential to include compounding pharmacies. The Guardian and other news outlets have challenged the secrecy rules in Missouri on grounds that they violate the public’s right to know how the government is acting in their name.
A third possible execution is scheduled in Florida for Wednesday evening – that of John Henry who was convicted of the 1986 killing of his wife, Suzanne, and her son. Florida’s death protocol depends on the use of midazolam, a sedative which has been linked to previous botched executions in Ohio and Florida.A third possible execution is scheduled in Florida for Wednesday evening – that of John Henry who was convicted of the 1986 killing of his wife, Suzanne, and her son. Florida’s death protocol depends on the use of midazolam, a sedative which has been linked to previous botched executions in Ohio and Florida.