Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE US STATE of Arkansas carried out its first execution in nearly a decade, the state’s attorney general said, proceeding despite criticism that its controversial plan to execute several prisoners by the end of the month was rushed.
Ledell Lee was put to death late on Thursday night after the US Supreme Court rejected eleventh-hour requests to stay the execution. He received injections of three drugs, including one that has sparked sharp legal debate.
Ledell Lee’s execution was among eight inmates originally scheduled to be put to death before a lethal injection drug expires on 30 April. He was pronounced dead at 11.56pm, four minutes before his death warrant was due to expire.
Lee showed no signs of consciousness two minutes after the start of his execution, which began at 11.44 pm. With arms extended, covered with a sheet, his head and hands covered with leather straps, Lee made no final statement and showed no apparent signs of suffering during the execution.
“The governor knows the right thing was done tonight,” JR Davis, a spokesman for Governor Asa Hutchinson, who scheduled the multiple executions. “Justice was carried out.”
Lee, 51, was put on death row for the 1993 death of his neighbour Debra Reese, whom Lee struck 36 times with a tire tool her husband had given her for protection. Lee was arrested less than an hour after the killing after spending some of the $300 he had stolen from Reese.
The state originally set four double executions over an 11-day period in April. The eight executions would have been the most by a state in such a compressed period since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. The first three executions were cancelled because of court decisions.
“I pray this lawful execution helps bring closure for the Reese family,” Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said in a statement issued minutes after Lee’s execution.
Two more inmates are set to die on Monday, and one on 27 April. Another inmate scheduled for execution next week has received a stay.
Execution
The US Supreme Court cleared the way for Lee’s execution less than an hour before his death warrant was set to expire at midnight, rejecting a round of last-minute appeals the condemned inmate’s attorneys had filed. An earlier ruling from the state Supreme Court allowing officials to use a lethal injection drug that a supplier says was obtained by misleading the company cleared the way for Lee’s execution.
“Arkansas’ decision to rush through the execution of Mr. Lee just because its supply of lethal drugs are expiring at the end of the month denied him the opportunity to conduct DNA testing that could have proven his innocence,” said Nina Morrison, senior staff attorney with the Innocence Project, a non-profit legal organization that helped represent Lee in his last appeals.
Arkansas dropped plans to execute a second inmate, Stacey Johnson, on the same day after the state Supreme Court said it wouldn’t reconsider his stay, which was issued so Johnson could seek more DNA tests in hopes of proving his innocence.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Museums across the world have banners outside to advertise events. Yet for some reason An Taisce feels this should be a special case. Just like Dublin’s special skyline.
TheJournal had an image of what these banners are supposed to look like in a previous article. I cannot imagine anyone saying they look anything but fitting and dignified to match the importance of the GPO.
@Donncha: they have similar outside the old central bank, no issue
Urgh. An Taisce are trying to make themselves relevant again
Agreed, an Taisce and an bord pleanala ignore plastic signage all over o’Connell street and object to some classical banners designed in keeping with the GPO, bunch of muppets.
@Carla Killeen: Neither An Bord Pleanála or an Taisce have any power to remove signage that is a matter for planning enforcement. There is a loophole where the premise claim the signage is temporary or they remove the signage before they are due to appear in Court.
Seriously? And these clowns are paid to come up with this sort of claptrap!!
It’s about our culture not An Taisce’s band of irrational members
It’s a beautiful building leave it alone.
And, previously, Dublin City Council thought it was okay for an Ann Summers sex shop to open on O’Connell street? Really!
Banners look aufull that said gpo could do with a bit of a wash down
These c@#$s clearly have f@#$ all to do
@Niall Cassidy: *This post has a toxicity rating of 7.5. You may proceed to post it but other readers will notice that you are a frustrated lonely keyboard individual consumed by directionless negative energy*
I agree with An Taisce. The GPO should not be draped with banners for 3 years. Leave it alone.
An Taisce should go F right off.
It’s all right to have soup kitchens outside every night to make it even more unsightly than the banners though isn’t it?
have your say