A death row inmate was executed by lethal injection in Texas on Wednesday evening, marking the first execution in the United States since a failed attempt to put Christa Pike to death last week.
The inmate, 46-year-old Jamaal Howard, was pronounced dead at 20:03 local time at the state prison in Huntsville after receiving a fatal dose of pentobarbital.
Appeals Based on Executions Drugs Denied
Howard’s lawyers had previously requested a judge to halt the execution, pointing to the botched lethal injections of Pike. Because the state of Texas intended to use pentobarbital—the same drug used in Pike’s case—his legal team argued that Howard faced similar risks. They also claimed that the state’s supply of the substance had degraded, mirroring arguments made by Pike’s attorneys.
The legal appeals were twice denied by courts, and the US Supreme Court also turned down a final appeal late Wednesday. In their legal filings, Howard’s attorneys argued that Texas should avoid following the path of Tennessee, suggesting a stay of execution would prevent similar complications.
Additionally, Howard’s lawyers appealed to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, requesting a 30-day delay to gather more information regarding the drug planned for the execution. The governor did not grant the requested delay.
Conviction and Final Statement
Howard was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Vickie Swartout, a 42-year-old convenience store clerk, during a robbery in 2000. Howard, who was 20 years old at the time of the crime, stole a carton of cigarettes and $114 from the cash register.
Before his execution, Howard offered an apology to Swartout’s family, who were present in the witness room. According to media reports, he asked for their forgiveness and expressed regret for the event.
Source: BBC News
