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| Texas man to become 11th US inmate executed this year | Texas man to become 11th US inmate executed this year |
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| High on drugs and carrying a shotgun over his shoulder as he shopped at a convenience store, Kent Sprouse grew agitated at a problem with his car and opened fire at bystanders, killing a man pumping gas and the police officer who responded to the shooting. | High on drugs and carrying a shotgun over his shoulder as he shopped at a convenience store, Kent Sprouse grew agitated at a problem with his car and opened fire at bystanders, killing a man pumping gas and the police officer who responded to the shooting. |
| The 42-year-old is set to die by lethal injection in the Texas death chamber on Thursday for the murders near Dallas in October 2002. He was convicted of the shooting of officer Harry Steinfeldt and charged but not tried over the death of Pedro Moreno. | The 42-year-old is set to die by lethal injection in the Texas death chamber on Thursday for the murders near Dallas in October 2002. He was convicted of the shooting of officer Harry Steinfeldt and charged but not tried over the death of Pedro Moreno. |
| Sprouse would be the 11th US inmate to be executed this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Texas has put to death four of the other 10. This time last year, 16 US prisoners had been executed. The lower number indicates the increasing practical and legal difficulties states are facing as they seek to carry out lethal injections. | |
| On 29 April the US supreme court will hear arguments about the controversial sedative midazolam in a case brought by Oklahoma inmates who say its use risks unconstitutional levels of pain and suffering. The past seven American executions have used a single-drug pentobarbital protocol but that drug has become increasingly hard to find even in compounded form. | On 29 April the US supreme court will hear arguments about the controversial sedative midazolam in a case brought by Oklahoma inmates who say its use risks unconstitutional levels of pain and suffering. The past seven American executions have used a single-drug pentobarbital protocol but that drug has become increasingly hard to find even in compounded form. |
| Texas, the most prolific death penalty state, has had trouble sourcing new supplies but last month revealed it had acquired enough of the sedative to carry out the four executions it has scheduled this month. However, it has another three arranged in May and June. | Texas, the most prolific death penalty state, has had trouble sourcing new supplies but last month revealed it had acquired enough of the sedative to carry out the four executions it has scheduled this month. However, it has another three arranged in May and June. |
| Pentobarbital is not without issues either. Georgia postponed two executions last month after officials became concerned that the batch of the drug looked cloudy. | Pentobarbital is not without issues either. Georgia postponed two executions last month after officials became concerned that the batch of the drug looked cloudy. |
| Tests showed that Sprouse had taken amphetamines, methamphetamines and cannabis within 48 hours of the shootings. Court records indicate that the Missouri native killed Moreno because he thought he was an undercover officer. Steinfeldt was hit twice under his arm, an area not covered by his protective vest. He fired 17 shots, wounding Sprouse. | Tests showed that Sprouse had taken amphetamines, methamphetamines and cannabis within 48 hours of the shootings. Court records indicate that the Missouri native killed Moreno because he thought he was an undercover officer. Steinfeldt was hit twice under his arm, an area not covered by his protective vest. He fired 17 shots, wounding Sprouse. |
| According to witness testimony, Sprouse was strangely unemotional and relaxed and readily admitted to the shootings in the immediate aftermath, repeatedly saying in hospital that “two cops got whacked”. | According to witness testimony, Sprouse was strangely unemotional and relaxed and readily admitted to the shootings in the immediate aftermath, repeatedly saying in hospital that “two cops got whacked”. |
| A central issue at trial was whether Sprouse had an underlying mental illness or whether his psychotic behaviour was caused by the effects of long-term drug abuse. Witnesses testified that Sprouse’s mental health deteriorated badly in the year before the murders and he began hearing voices and suffering delusions. His mother had him committed to a mental health institution but he was released within three days. | A central issue at trial was whether Sprouse had an underlying mental illness or whether his psychotic behaviour was caused by the effects of long-term drug abuse. Witnesses testified that Sprouse’s mental health deteriorated badly in the year before the murders and he began hearing voices and suffering delusions. His mother had him committed to a mental health institution but he was released within three days. |
| Court records show that during one interview with a doctor, Sprouse seemed unsure if he was God in human form or just “Joe Schmoe, regular old country boy.” | Court records show that during one interview with a doctor, Sprouse seemed unsure if he was God in human form or just “Joe Schmoe, regular old country boy.” |
| The jury rejected Sprouse’s insanity defence at his original trial. Sprouse unsuccessfully argued on appeal that he was mentally ill at the time of the crime, that his legal counsel was inadequate and that the instructions to the jury during the punishment phase improperly stopped them from considering voluntary intoxication as a mitigating factor. Last year the US supreme court decided not to hear his case on appeal. | The jury rejected Sprouse’s insanity defence at his original trial. Sprouse unsuccessfully argued on appeal that he was mentally ill at the time of the crime, that his legal counsel was inadequate and that the instructions to the jury during the punishment phase improperly stopped them from considering voluntary intoxication as a mitigating factor. Last year the US supreme court decided not to hear his case on appeal. |