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Herbert Smulls executed as appeals fail Missouri executes Herbert Smulls as appeals fail
(about 2 hours later)
Missouri has executedMissouri has executed
a man convicted of killing a jewellery store owner during a 1991 robbery a man convicted of killing a jewellery store owner during a 1991 robbery
after the US supreme court denied last-minute appeals that in part after the US supreme court denied last-minute appeals that in part
challenged the drug used in the execution.challenged the drug used in the execution.
"After the United States supreme court vacated three separate stays "After the United States supreme court vacated three separate stays
of execution on January 29 2014, Herbert Smulls was executed for the of execution on January 29 2014, Herbert Smulls was executed for the
1991 murder of Stephen Honickman," said Chris Koster, the Missouri attorney general.1991 murder of Stephen Honickman," said Chris Koster, the Missouri attorney general.
Smulls, 56, was pronounced dead at 10.20pm local time at a state Smulls, 56, was pronounced dead at 10.20pm local time at a state
prison in Bonne Terre after receiving a lethal dose of pentobarbital, the corrections department said.prison in Bonne Terre after receiving a lethal dose of pentobarbital, the corrections department said.
The supreme court on Wednesday lifted a temporary stay of The supreme court on Wednesday lifted a temporary stay of
execution for Smulls, denying last-minute appeals. The top court late on execution for Smulls, denying last-minute appeals. The top court late on
Wednesday also vacated a stay from the US court of Wednesday also vacated a stay from the US court of
appeals.appeals.
Lawyers for Smulls sought another stay late on Wednesday but Missouri went ahead with the Lawyers for Smulls sought another stay late on Wednesday but Missouri went ahead with the
execution before the midnight expiration of the state's death warrant.execution before the midnight expiration of the state's death warrant.
Lawyers for Smulls had sought to block his execution on multiple Lawyers for Smulls had sought to block his execution on multiple
grounds, arguing in part that the compounded pentobarbital drug Missourigrounds, arguing in part that the compounded pentobarbital drug Missouri
used to kill him may not be as pure and as potent as it should be, used to kill him may not be as pure and as potent as it should be,
which could cause undue suffering.which could cause undue suffering.
Missouri and several other states have turned to compounding Missouri and several other states have turned to compounding
pharmacies, which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug pharmacies, which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug
Administration, to acquire drugs for executions after an increasing Administration, to acquire drugs for executions after an increasing
number of pharmaceutical manufacturers objected to their drugs being number of pharmaceutical manufacturers objected to their drugs being
used in capital punishment.used in capital punishment.
The increasing use of compounded drugs and untested drug mixes has The increasing use of compounded drugs and untested drug mixes has
brought renewed debate over the death penalty in the United States. In Oklahoma an inmate said he felt burning through his body when brought renewed debate over the death penalty in the United States. In Oklahoma an inmate said he felt burning through his body when
the lethal drugs were injected during an execution in early January. the lethal drugs were injected during an execution in early January.
Later in the month an Ohio man gasped and convulsed during his Later in the month an Ohio man gasped and convulsed during his
execution with a two-drug mix never before used in the United States.execution with a two-drug mix never before used in the United States.
Smulls was the sixth person executed in the United States in 2014 Smulls was the sixth person executed in the United States in 2014
and the third in Missouri since November.and the third in Missouri since November.