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Oklahoma Botched an Execution With Untested Lethal Injection Drugs

Posted by Unknown on from the firing-squads-make-a-comeback dept.

Daniel_Stuckey (2647775) writes "The state of Oklahoma had scheduled two executions for Tuesday, April 29th. This in spite of myriad objections that the drugs being used for both lethal injections had not been tested, and thus could violate the constitutional right to the courts, as well as the 8th Amendment: protection from cruel and unusual punishment. After much legal and political wrangling, the state proceeded with the executions anyway. It soon became clear that the critics' worst case scenarios were coming true — Oklahoma violently botched the first execution. The inmate "blew" a vein and had a heart attack. The state quickly postponed the second one. 'After weeks of Oklahoma refusing to disclose basic information about the drugs for tonight's lethal injection procedures, tonight, Clayton Lockett was tortured to death,' Madeline Cohen, the attorney of Charles Warner, the second man scheduled for execution, said in a statement. Katie Fretland at The Guardian reported from the scene of the botched attempt to execute Lockett using the untested, unvetted, and therefore potentially unconstitutional lethal injection drugs." sciencehabit also points out a study indicating that around 4% of death row inmates in the U.S. are likely innocent.

5 of 1,198 comments (clear)

  1. What's the problem? by DougOtto · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The inmate "blew" a vein and had a heart attack.

    Sounds like it worked okay.

    --
    Solving Unix problems since 1989...
    1. Re:What's the problem? by DougOtto · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Many induce absolutely tremendous levels of suffering.

      We can hope.

      --
      Solving Unix problems since 1989...
    2. Re:What's the problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Nothing of value is lost, either, by his suffering. Why should we care more about his life than he cared about his victims?

    3. Re:What's the problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      And don't bother pretending you're any better than the scumbag you're killing if you're going to stoop to that level.

      Personally, I think we should go back to the gas chamber. Pump it up and let them go to sleep and meet their fate. None of this having to come up with esoteric drugs because the shot we give dogs is "too good for them".

      It'll never fly with the Republicans though, not violent enough to soothe their troubled souls.

  2. No, its NOT just to prevent crime by Viol8 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    The system is there to PUNISH too. Now you can call it Karma in a hand waving dismissive way if that makes you feel superior but you're just dishing up the same tired old argument that the system is simply there to keep criminals away from the public. No, it isn't - its more than that. There is a natural justice that most normal people (ie not feeble minded metro-liberals) feel needs to be carried out with regards to heinous crimes since seeing that done is one of the foundations of a stable human society.