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| Texas inmate drops appeals 'to expedite death sentence' | Texas inmate drops appeals 'to expedite death sentence' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Texas man convicted of killing a couple in 2003 is due to be executed later after ordering his lawyer to drop appeals to his lethal injection. | A Texas man convicted of killing a couple in 2003 is due to be executed later after ordering his lawyer to drop appeals to his lethal injection. |
| Barney Fuller Jr, 58, pleaded guilty to capital murder for killing his neighbours during a shooting rampage. | Barney Fuller Jr, 58, pleaded guilty to capital murder for killing his neighbours during a shooting rampage. |
| In a hearing earlier this year, Fuller said he had no challenges to his death sentence and was "ready to move on". | In a hearing earlier this year, Fuller said he had no challenges to his death sentence and was "ready to move on". |
| His lethal injection would be Texas' seventh execution this year and the first for the state in six months. | His lethal injection would be Texas' seventh execution this year and the first for the state in six months. |
| Fuller's death would mark the longest gap between executions in Texas since 2008, when the US Supreme Court considered whether lethal injection was unconstitutional. | Fuller's death would mark the longest gap between executions in Texas since 2008, when the US Supreme Court considered whether lethal injection was unconstitutional. |
| Texas carries out the most executions in the US. | Texas carries out the most executions in the US. |
| Fuller, 58, was arrested and charged 13 years ago for the murder of Nathan Copeland, 43, and his wife, Annette, 39, at their home in Lovelady, located about 100 miles north of Houston. | Fuller, 58, was arrested and charged 13 years ago for the murder of Nathan Copeland, 43, and his wife, Annette, 39, at their home in Lovelady, located about 100 miles north of Houston. |
| He fired 60 shots into their home before breaking in and opening fire on the couple and their children, injuring their 14-year-old son. | He fired 60 shots into their home before breaking in and opening fire on the couple and their children, injuring their 14-year-old son. |
| Is the death penalty dying out in the US? | Is the death penalty dying out in the US? |
| The couple's 10-year-old daughter was able to escape when Fuller could not turn on the light in her bedroom. | The couple's 10-year-old daughter was able to escape when Fuller could not turn on the light in her bedroom. |
| Fuller and the Copelands had a longstanding neighbourly dispute that culminated when Fuller was summoned to court in 2003 on a charge that he threatened the family. | Fuller and the Copelands had a longstanding neighbourly dispute that culminated when Fuller was summoned to court in 2003 on a charge that he threatened the family. |
| Two days later, he killed the couple. | Two days later, he killed the couple. |
| Last year, Fuller wrote to his attorney saying that he wanted proceed with the execution. | Last year, Fuller wrote to his attorney saying that he wanted proceed with the execution. |
| Does a death sentence always mean death? | Does a death sentence always mean death? |
| "But I also really do not care and do not want to go on living in this hellhole," he wrote. "Do not do anything for me which will prolong my appeals and time here on Texas death row." | "But I also really do not care and do not want to go on living in this hellhole," he wrote. "Do not do anything for me which will prolong my appeals and time here on Texas death row." |
| At hearing in the spring, a federal judge ruled Fuller competent to waive his right to appeal. | |
| "What's the point of sentencing someone to death, you know, if you're not going to carry on through with what you ordered," he said at the hearing. | "What's the point of sentencing someone to death, you know, if you're not going to carry on through with what you ordered," he said at the hearing. |
| Fuller's execution would be the 16th this year in the US. | Fuller's execution would be the 16th this year in the US. |