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| Oklahoma to review procedures after botched execution | Oklahoma to review procedures after botched execution |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The governor of the US state of Oklahoma has ordered a "full review" of the state's execution procedures following a botched execution. | The governor of the US state of Oklahoma has ordered a "full review" of the state's execution procedures following a botched execution. |
| Clayton Lockett's execution was stopped after 20 minutes on Tuesday evening | Clayton Lockett's execution was stopped after 20 minutes on Tuesday evening |
| Officials say one of his veins ruptured, preventing the drugs from taking full effect. He died of a heart attack less than an hour later. | Officials say one of his veins ruptured, preventing the drugs from taking full effect. He died of a heart attack less than an hour later. |
| On Wednesday, a White House spokesman said the execution "fell short" of humane standards. | |
| "[President Barack Obama] believes there are some crimes that are so heinous that the death penalty is merited," Jay Carney said. | |
| "But it's also the case that we have a fundamental standard in this country that even when the death penalty is justified, it must be carried out humanely. And I think everyone would recognise that this case fell short of that standard." | |
| 'Horrible thing' | |
| Lockett was sentenced to death for shooting 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman and watching as two accomplices buried her alive in 1999. | Lockett was sentenced to death for shooting 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman and watching as two accomplices buried her alive in 1999. |
| Ms Neiman and a friend had interrupted the men as they robbed a home. | Ms Neiman and a friend had interrupted the men as they robbed a home. |
| Lockett's ordeal on Tuesday night led the governor of Oklahoma to postpone the execution of another inmate who was scheduled to die hours later. | |
| Lockett's lawyer, David Autry, said the failed execution was a "horrible thing to witness". | Lockett's lawyer, David Autry, said the failed execution was a "horrible thing to witness". |
| "Obviously the whole thing was gummed up and botched from beginning to end," Mr Autry said. "Halting the execution obviously did Lockett no good." | "Obviously the whole thing was gummed up and botched from beginning to end," Mr Autry said. "Halting the execution obviously did Lockett no good." |
| The problems surrounding Lockett's execution come amid a wider debate over the legality of the three-drug method and whether its use violates guarantees in the US constitution "against cruel and unusual punishment". | The problems surrounding Lockett's execution come amid a wider debate over the legality of the three-drug method and whether its use violates guarantees in the US constitution "against cruel and unusual punishment". |
| Both men scheduled to die on Tuesday had unsuccessfully challenged a state law that shields the identities of companies supplying the drugs. | Both men scheduled to die on Tuesday had unsuccessfully challenged a state law that shields the identities of companies supplying the drugs. |
| 'Trying to talk' | 'Trying to talk' |
| The execution began at 18:23 local time (00:23 GMT), when officials administered a sedative. | The execution began at 18:23 local time (00:23 GMT), when officials administered a sedative. |
| Lockett was declared unconscious 10 minutes later, allowing officials to begin injecting the two drugs that would kill him. | Lockett was declared unconscious 10 minutes later, allowing officials to begin injecting the two drugs that would kill him. |
| But three minutes later, he began breathing heavily and writhing. | But three minutes later, he began breathing heavily and writhing. |
| Courtney Francisco, a local journalist present at the execution, told the BBC Lockett was moving his arms and legs and straining his head, mumbling "as if he was trying to talk". | Courtney Francisco, a local journalist present at the execution, told the BBC Lockett was moving his arms and legs and straining his head, mumbling "as if he was trying to talk". |
| Prison officials pulled a curtain across the view of witnesses when it became apparent that something had gone wrong. | Prison officials pulled a curtain across the view of witnesses when it became apparent that something had gone wrong. |
| Oklahoma's top prison official ordered a halt to the execution shortly after. | Oklahoma's top prison official ordered a halt to the execution shortly after. |
| "We believe that a vein was blown and the drugs weren't working as they were designed to." Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said. | "We believe that a vein was blown and the drugs weren't working as they were designed to." Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said. |
| But Mr Autry questioned the remarks, insisting his client "had large arms and very prominent veins," according to the Associated Press | But Mr Autry questioned the remarks, insisting his client "had large arms and very prominent veins," according to the Associated Press |
| 'Tortured to death' | 'Tortured to death' |
| Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said in a statement that she had issued a 14-day stay of execution for fellow inmate Charles Warner, 46, while the state completed a review of its execution procedures. | Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said in a statement that she had issued a 14-day stay of execution for fellow inmate Charles Warner, 46, while the state completed a review of its execution procedures. |
| Warner had been scheduled to be put to death in the same room two hours later in a rare double execution. | Warner had been scheduled to be put to death in the same room two hours later in a rare double execution. |
| He was convicted of the 1997 murder and rape of an 11-month-old girl. | |
| His lawyer, Madeline Cohen, who witnessed Lockett's execution, said he had been "tortured to death" and called for an independent investigation, including an outside medical examination. | His lawyer, Madeline Cohen, who witnessed Lockett's execution, said he had been "tortured to death" and called for an independent investigation, including an outside medical examination. |
| US states have encountered increasing problems in obtaining the drugs for lethal injections, amid an embargo by European pharmaceutical firms. | US states have encountered increasing problems in obtaining the drugs for lethal injections, amid an embargo by European pharmaceutical firms. |
| Some have turned to untried combinations of drugs or have sought to obtain the drugs custom-made from compounding pharmacies. Several US states that still have the death penalty have since switched to a single-drug method. | Some have turned to untried combinations of drugs or have sought to obtain the drugs custom-made from compounding pharmacies. Several US states that still have the death penalty have since switched to a single-drug method. |
| Warner and Lockett had unsuccessfully challenged an Oklahoma state law that blocks officials from revealing - even in court - the identities of the companies supplying the drugs. | Warner and Lockett had unsuccessfully challenged an Oklahoma state law that blocks officials from revealing - even in court - the identities of the companies supplying the drugs. |
| The state maintains the law is necessary to protect the suppliers from legal action and harassment. | The state maintains the law is necessary to protect the suppliers from legal action and harassment. |
| Lockett and Warner argued they needed to know the names of the suppliers in order to ensure the quality of the drugs that would be used to kill them and to be certain that they had been obtained legally. | Lockett and Warner argued they needed to know the names of the suppliers in order to ensure the quality of the drugs that would be used to kill them and to be certain that they had been obtained legally. |