Gabriel City » Execution

The Autobiography of an Execution

hcdmedia — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:10:55 +0000

David Dow’s new book The Autobiography of an Execution chronicles his own life as a defense lawyer for inmates on death row.“I do not want my clients to be killed, and I can’t stand them,” he writes.

Questions for Cathy – Overseeing an execution

Cathy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:00:53 +0000

What would it be like for you to oversee an execution?

It would be challenging on a number of levels. This is difficult to answer.
I’ve had a great teacher in Warden Cain. He is professional and
compassionate. I’d like think I’d be that way. Its a strange process and
event. Staff are pulled in so many directions and we have so many people to
consider and assist during this time. I’d talk a lot to those around me.
I’d make it as transparent as possible and I’d remain as calm and helpful
as I could be. I don’t think I’d approach them all the same – outside of
course the official, legal requirements.

Ohio’s New Execution Methods

hcdmedia — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:17:35 +0000

Today Kenneth Biros was executed in Ohio by a new form of one drug intravenous injection never before used on a human being. Anti-death penalty advocates have argued that a single drug is more humane than the three drug mix that is often used, though they still have concerns about this method.

Read more here.

Forthcoming Execution in Texas Stirs National Debate

hcdmedia — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:46:48 +0000

A man convicted in the state of Texas of molesting and killing his former girlfriend’s daughter is scheduled to be executed today unless the Supreme Court agrees to hear his case. The man, Bobby Wayne Woods, has an IQ in the range of someone mentally retarded. Courts have refused to recognize him as so, but his lawyer claims that he is mentally retarded and therefore should be spared execution.

Read more here.

DC Sniper is Executed in Virginia

hcdmedia — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:17:12 +0000

John A. Muhammad, who in 2002 went on a shooting spree in Washington DC, was executed on Tuesday evening at the Greensville Correctional Center. The Supreme Court did not intercede on his behalf and Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia refused to stay the execution.

Read the full article here.

Bill Introduced to Prevent Innocent from Execution

hcdmedia — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:40:59 +0000

The Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act was introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) and would allow death penalty inmates to present newly discovered evidence of innocence. Current law does not grant habeas corpus for death row inmates and allows the inmates no procedural options.

Read more here.

Execution Dates Set in Ohio

hcdmedia — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:37:08 +0000

The Supreme Court of Ohio has scheduled two execution dates even though executions have been temporarily suspended in the state. On September 15th an execution was postponed when the executioners couldn’t find a usable vein on the inmate. Since this incident the state has been examining its execution policies.

Read more here.

Ohio Execution Goes Wrong

hcdmedia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:52:25 +0000

The execution of Ohio inmate, Rommel Broom by lethal injection went wrong this week, officials stated. The execution has been rescheduled for next week. According to Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, this is the only time in United States’ history that a lethal injection failed and was rescheduled.

The ACLU of Ohio stated that the state must abolish lethal injection. “This is the third screwed-up execution in three years,” said Jeffrey M. Gamso of the ACLU of Ohio. “They keep tweaking their protocol, but it takes more than tweaks. They don’t know how to do this competently, and they need to stop.”

Execution Debated in Missouri

hcdmedia — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:43:13 +0000

A death penalty case in Missouri is being debated even as Dennis J. Skillicorn – convicted of murder - is scheduled for execution Wednesday, May 20th. In Missouri people are split over this case. According to the New York Times article his supporters

point to Mr. Skillicorn’s work in prison leading a hospice program, editing a magazine for death row inmates, and, in the view of even some prison workers, helping to create a calmer, safer atmosphere behind bars.

Others say Skillicorn may not have been the murderer and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Read the New York Times article here and contribute to the discussion about capital punishment in the United States.