This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/ohio-dennis-mcguire-execution-worked-very-well
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ohio officials insist Dennis McGuire execution 'worked very well' | Ohio officials insist Dennis McGuire execution 'worked very well' |
| (7 months later) | |
| The state of Ohio has released its initial reports into the execution of Dennis McGuire last month using a previously untested two-drug lethal injection, in which it finds that the new protocol was properly implemented and that “the process worked very well”. | The state of Ohio has released its initial reports into the execution of Dennis McGuire last month using a previously untested two-drug lethal injection, in which it finds that the new protocol was properly implemented and that “the process worked very well”. |
| McGuire was put to death on 16 January using a combination of the sedative midazolam and morphine derivative hydromorphone. It was the first time that such a cocktail had been used in an execution. | McGuire was put to death on 16 January using a combination of the sedative midazolam and morphine derivative hydromorphone. It was the first time that such a cocktail had been used in an execution. |
| Eyewitnesses in the death chamber reported that it took up to 26 minutes for McGuire to die, making it the longest execution in Ohio in modern times. The prisoner was seen to be gasping for air for up to 14 minutes in a procedure that one observer, Lawrence Hummer, described in the Guardian as horrendous and inhumane. | Eyewitnesses in the death chamber reported that it took up to 26 minutes for McGuire to die, making it the longest execution in Ohio in modern times. The prisoner was seen to be gasping for air for up to 14 minutes in a procedure that one observer, Lawrence Hummer, described in the Guardian as horrendous and inhumane. |
| In a report written immediately after the execution, known as an “after-action review”, the warden of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility where the execution took place, Donald Morgan, writes that “the process worked very well and the execution was carried out in compliance with” the state’s death penalty protocol. In answer to the routine question, “Were there acts or events that were not anticipated in advance?” he replies: “No.” | In a report written immediately after the execution, known as an “after-action review”, the warden of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility where the execution took place, Donald Morgan, writes that “the process worked very well and the execution was carried out in compliance with” the state’s death penalty protocol. In answer to the routine question, “Were there acts or events that were not anticipated in advance?” he replies: “No.” |
| A separate review carried out by a special assistant after the execution had been completed found that all the required medical steps set out in the protocol had been properly followed using trained and qualified staff and there had been no variations from established policy. “I find no reason for revision of policy for future executions,” the report concluded. | A separate review carried out by a special assistant after the execution had been completed found that all the required medical steps set out in the protocol had been properly followed using trained and qualified staff and there had been no variations from established policy. “I find no reason for revision of policy for future executions,” the report concluded. |
| The official recorded timeline of the McGuire executionalso made no mention of anything untoward, even though a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch observed that the prisoner had “struggled, made guttural noises, gasped for air and choked”. | |
| The department of corrections stressed that the two reviews were the initial reports into the execution and were narrowly cast to look specifically at whether the requirements of the state’s death penalty protocol had been complied with. A third examination investigating what actually happened during the McGuire execution is already under way though it is not clear when it will be made public. | The department of corrections stressed that the two reviews were the initial reports into the execution and were narrowly cast to look specifically at whether the requirements of the state’s death penalty protocol had been complied with. A third examination investigating what actually happened during the McGuire execution is already under way though it is not clear when it will be made public. |
| Despite the tight focus of the newly-published reviews, lawyers acting for the deceased prisoner criticized the finding that nothing unanticipated had happened during the execution. “That is a seriously disturbing conclusion given that we had warned them explicitly in advance, in very strong terms, that Mr McGuire was likely to suffocate to death in a very horrible way,” said Allen Bohnert, McGuire’s attorney. | Despite the tight focus of the newly-published reviews, lawyers acting for the deceased prisoner criticized the finding that nothing unanticipated had happened during the execution. “That is a seriously disturbing conclusion given that we had warned them explicitly in advance, in very strong terms, that Mr McGuire was likely to suffocate to death in a very horrible way,” said Allen Bohnert, McGuire’s attorney. |
| He added: “They chose to reject our warnings and when everything we predicted came to pass they continue now to claim that nothing unexpected happened.” | He added: “They chose to reject our warnings and when everything we predicted came to pass they continue now to claim that nothing unexpected happened.” |
| Earlier this week, Louisiana called off the execution of child killer Christopher Sepulvado who had been set to be injected on Wednesday with the same two-drug cocktail used by Ohio. The state agreed to postpone the controversial procedure to allow a full trial on the constitutionality of the new protocol on 7 April. | Earlier this week, Louisiana called off the execution of child killer Christopher Sepulvado who had been set to be injected on Wednesday with the same two-drug cocktail used by Ohio. The state agreed to postpone the controversial procedure to allow a full trial on the constitutionality of the new protocol on 7 April. |