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Arizona execution takes two hours Arizona execution takes two hours
(35 minutes later)
US death row inmate Joseph Wood has died after an execution in Arizona took nearly two hours to kill him.US death row inmate Joseph Wood has died after an execution in Arizona took nearly two hours to kill him.
Wood, a double murderer, was executed by lethal injection.Wood, a double murderer, was executed by lethal injection.
His lawyers filed an appeal for an emergency stay of execution, after he had been "gasping and snorting for more than an hour" in the death chamber.His lawyers filed an appeal for an emergency stay of execution, after he had been "gasping and snorting for more than an hour" in the death chamber.
They argued the extended execution process violated Wood's right to be executed in the absence of cruel and unusual punishment.They argued the extended execution process violated Wood's right to be executed in the absence of cruel and unusual punishment.
The execution should have taken 10 minutes, his lawyers said. The execution should have taken 10 minutes, his lawyers said, but Wood, 55, gasped more than 600 times before he died.
It began at 13:52 (20:52 GMT), and Wood was pronounced dead at 15:49, one hour and 57 minutes later, according to the Arizona attorney-general's office.It began at 13:52 (20:52 GMT), and Wood was pronounced dead at 15:49, one hour and 57 minutes later, according to the Arizona attorney-general's office.
Wood was convicted of the 1989 murders of his estranged girlfriend Debra Dietz and her father Eugene Dietz. He was convicted of the 1989 murders of his estranged girlfriend Debra Dietz and her father Eugene Dietz.
He had sought to force Arizona to name the manufacturers of the drugs used in the execution, but a last-ditch ruling by the US Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution to go ahead. Family members of the vicims were unconcerned by the way the execution was carried out.
"This man conducted a horrific murder and you guys are going, let's worry about the drugs,'' said Richard Brown.
"Why didn't they give him a bullet?"
Wood's lawyers had sought to force Arizona to name the manufacturers of the drugs used in the execution, but a last-ditch ruling by the US Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution to go ahead.
In communications with Wood's lawyers this year, Arizona officials said they would use a two-drug combination of midazolam and hydromorphone to put him to death.In communications with Wood's lawyers this year, Arizona officials said they would use a two-drug combination of midazolam and hydromorphone to put him to death.
But they declined to provide further identifying information, including the name of the drug's manufacturer, citing a state confidentiality law aimed at protecting the drug makers from reprisal.But they declined to provide further identifying information, including the name of the drug's manufacturer, citing a state confidentiality law aimed at protecting the drug makers from reprisal.