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Joseph Franklin, white supremacist serial killer, executed Joseph Franklin, white supremacist serial killer, executed
(35 minutes later)
A US white supremacist who targeted black and Jewish people in a nationwide killing spree has been put to death in the US state of Missouri.A US white supremacist who targeted black and Jewish people in a nationwide killing spree has been put to death in the US state of Missouri.
Joseph Franklin was executed for shooting dead a man and wounding two others outside a synagogue in 1977.Joseph Franklin was executed for shooting dead a man and wounding two others outside a synagogue in 1977.
The 63-year-old was convicted of seven other racially motivated murders. He claimed to have committed 20 in total.The 63-year-old was convicted of seven other racially motivated murders. He claimed to have committed 20 in total.
His execution came after the US Supreme Court upheld an appeal court's decision to lift a stay of execution.His execution came after the US Supreme Court upheld an appeal court's decision to lift a stay of execution.
In 1978 Franklin shot Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, leaving him partially paralysed, after seeing a picture of a mixed-race couple in one of his magazines.
Racist views 'renounced'Racist views 'renounced'
In 1978 Franklin shot Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, leaving him partially paralysed, after seeing a picture of a mixed-race couple in one of his magazines.
But Mr Flynt - who opposes the death penalty - had sued to prevent Franklin's execution.But Mr Flynt - who opposes the death penalty - had sued to prevent Franklin's execution.
In an interview with the St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper published on Monday, Franklin said he had renounced his racist views.In an interview with the St Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper published on Monday, Franklin said he had renounced his racist views.
He said his motivation had been "illogical" and was partly a consequence of an abusive upbringing.He said his motivation had been "illogical" and was partly a consequence of an abusive upbringing.
He said he had interacted with black people in jail, adding: "I saw they were people just like us." He said he had interacted with black people in prison, adding: "I saw they were people just like us."
His lawyers' appeal focused on a dispute over the type of lethal injections that Missouri uses in its executions. Franklin, who defence lawyers said was a paranoid schizophrenic, bombed a synagogue in Tennessee in July 1977. No-one was injured in that attack.
He committed his first murder shortly after arriving in St Louis later that year, picking out the Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel synagogue from the phone book.
Franklin opened fire on the place of worship as guests were leaving a bar mitzvah on 8 October 1977, killing Gerald Gordon, 42.
It was for this murder that he was sentenced to death.
Sniper attacks
He continued sniper attacks over three years, killing two black teenagers in Ohio and an interracial couple in Wisconsin.
Franklin was finally caught after killing two young black men who were about to go running with teenage white girls in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His lawyers' appeal focused partly on a dispute over the type of lethal injections that Missouri uses in its executions.
US and EU manufacturers have been cutting off the supply of drugs used for lethal injections in recent years in an attempt to distance themselves from executions.US and EU manufacturers have been cutting off the supply of drugs used for lethal injections in recent years in an attempt to distance themselves from executions.
As a result, Missouri, which long used a lethal three-drug cocktail for executions, has changed the drugs it uses three times in as many months.As a result, Missouri, which long used a lethal three-drug cocktail for executions, has changed the drugs it uses three times in as many months.
The single drug used in the execution of Franklin was pentobarbital, a short-acting barbiturate that can induce death in high doses.The single drug used in the execution of Franklin was pentobarbital, a short-acting barbiturate that can induce death in high doses.
On Tuesday, Franklin's lawyers won a stay of execution when they argued in federal court that using this drug would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.On Tuesday, Franklin's lawyers won a stay of execution when they argued in federal court that using this drug would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
But early on Wednesday, a federal appeals court overturned the stay of execution. Its ruling was upheld by the US Supreme Court, sealing Franklin's fate.But early on Wednesday, a federal appeals court overturned the stay of execution. Its ruling was upheld by the US Supreme Court, sealing Franklin's fate.
An anti-capital punishment group, Supporters of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, attended a candlelight vigil for Franklin outside a church in the city of St Louis. He declined to make a final statement and was pronounced dead at 6:17 local time (12:17 GMT).