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Botched Oklahoma lethal injection execution of Clayton Lockett described as ‘a bloody mess’ Botched Oklahoma lethal injection execution of Clayton Lockett described as ‘a bloody mess’
(1 day later)
A grisly execution of a US criminal in Oklahoma that did not go according to plan has been detailed for the first time since the ineffective lethal injection was administered eight months ago.A grisly execution of a US criminal in Oklahoma that did not go according to plan has been detailed for the first time since the ineffective lethal injection was administered eight months ago.
A medic had repeatedly attempted to insert an intravenous line in the groin of prisoner Clayton Lockett but pierced an artery by accident and was sprayed with blood, according to a document filed in Federal District Court on Friday, as reported by The New York Times.A medic had repeatedly attempted to insert an intravenous line in the groin of prisoner Clayton Lockett but pierced an artery by accident and was sprayed with blood, according to a document filed in Federal District Court on Friday, as reported by The New York Times.
Lockett, a murderer and rapist who was 38-years-old when he was killed by the state, was also said to have been writhing around, clenching his teeth, groaning in agony and had even tried to lift his head off the pillow just minutes after he was pronounced unconscious by doctors, before he died of a heart attack 43 minutes later.Lockett, a murderer and rapist who was 38-years-old when he was killed by the state, was also said to have been writhing around, clenching his teeth, groaning in agony and had even tried to lift his head off the pillow just minutes after he was pronounced unconscious by doctors, before he died of a heart attack 43 minutes later.
“It was a bloody mess,” said Anita Trammell, the warden of the Oklahoma state prison where the execution took place on 29 April at 6.23pm, as recorded in an interview with state investigators.“It was a bloody mess,” said Anita Trammell, the warden of the Oklahoma state prison where the execution took place on 29 April at 6.23pm, as recorded in an interview with state investigators.
After the doctor had realised that there was no drugs left for the execution and that the needle was too short to reach the veins, Lockett’s heart had stopped and no efforts were made to resuscitate him, The New York Times said.After the doctor had realised that there was no drugs left for the execution and that the needle was too short to reach the veins, Lockett’s heart had stopped and no efforts were made to resuscitate him, The New York Times said.
Lockett had a long history of crime since he pleaded guilty for burglary at 19 for which he received seven years. In 1999, he kidnapped, beat and shot 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman before watching his accomplices bury her while she was still alive. Lockett had a long history of crime since he pleaded guilty of burglary at 19 for which he received seven years. In 1999, he kidnapped, beat and shot 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman before watching his accomplices bury her while she was still alive.
In 2000, he was convicted of murder, rape, forcible sodomy, kidnapping, assault and battery for which he was sentenced to death by lethal injection, which has the highest failure rate of all methods of execution at 7.1 per cent.In 2000, he was convicted of murder, rape, forcible sodomy, kidnapping, assault and battery for which he was sentenced to death by lethal injection, which has the highest failure rate of all methods of execution at 7.1 per cent.
Robert Patton, Department of Corrections director, called for an external review of what went wrong in the execution of Lockett Several officials acknowledged, according to the court brief, that they had no contingency plans in case Lockett failed to die.Robert Patton, Department of Corrections director, called for an external review of what went wrong in the execution of Lockett Several officials acknowledged, according to the court brief, that they had no contingency plans in case Lockett failed to die.
His execution was supposed to be followed two hours later by that of Charles F. Warner, who was convicted of raping and murdering an infant in 1997, but the state immediately suspended his execution and those of others to investigate what had went wrong.His execution was supposed to be followed two hours later by that of Charles F. Warner, who was convicted of raping and murdering an infant in 1997, but the state immediately suspended his execution and those of others to investigate what had went wrong.
Officials say they have improved training and procedures, and Warner is now scheduled to die on 15 January next year, followed by three other convicts on 29 January, 19 February and 5 March.Officials say they have improved training and procedures, and Warner is now scheduled to die on 15 January next year, followed by three other convicts on 29 January, 19 February and 5 March.
Officials have said they plan to use a three-drug combination similar to that used for Lockett with midazolam sedative, but at ten times the dose used, followed by a paralysing agent and one that stops the heart beating.Officials have said they plan to use a three-drug combination similar to that used for Lockett with midazolam sedative, but at ten times the dose used, followed by a paralysing agent and one that stops the heart beating.
The lawyers seeking to delay the planned executions have claimed that the use of midazolam amounts to unconstitutional experimentation on humans and they plan to call upon medical experts in the hope to prove that multiplying the sedative dosage would not necessarily work.The lawyers seeking to delay the planned executions have claimed that the use of midazolam amounts to unconstitutional experimentation on humans and they plan to call upon medical experts in the hope to prove that multiplying the sedative dosage would not necessarily work.
Midazolam was also used during the execution of murderer Joseph Wood in Arizona, in July, that lasted nearly two hours while the prisoner gasped for breath as the executioners repeatedly injected more of the drugs.Midazolam was also used during the execution of murderer Joseph Wood in Arizona, in July, that lasted nearly two hours while the prisoner gasped for breath as the executioners repeatedly injected more of the drugs.