lethal injection news stories on Newser

Missouri to Use Jacko Death Drug in Executions

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:23:36 CDT

The same anesthetic that caused Michael Jackson's overdose death is now the drug of choice for executions in Missouri, causing a stir among critics who question how the state can guarantee a drug untested for lethal injection won't cause pain and suffering for the condemned. Last week the Missouri Department...

Death Penalty May Await Soldier in Afghan Killings

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:00:04 CDT

The US soldier accused of gunning down 16 Afghan civilians near Kandahar may himself be killed for the crime, a military defense attorney tells MSNBC . "Based on what we’re hearing I suspect this will be prosecuted as a death penalty case," says Philip Cave, who is based in Washington. "You’ve...

EU to Halt Export of Lethal Injection Drug

Matt Cantor — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:59:54 CST

By week's end, it will become even more difficult for the US to get its hands on a key drug used in lethal injections. Early this year, an Illinois firm stopped making thiopental. Now, the European Union is poised to ban the export of the drug without a permit, Der...

Fla. Politician: It's Time to Bring Back Firing Squads

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:13:18 CDT

Lethal injection is just such a pleasant way to die. At least according to Florida state Rep. Brad Drake, who wants to put an end to the execution method in the state. He argues that Death Row killers shouldn't be allowed to "get off that easy"; the electric chair would...

Outrage Follows Execution of Troy Davis

Rob Quinn — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:33:16 CDT

The execution of Georgia inmate Troy Davis late last night was one of the most high-profile the US has seen in years and has sparked calls for a rethink of the death penalty. More than 500 people gathered outside the prison as Davis was executed; protests occurred as far away...

Virginian Executed, Death-Drug Maker Objects

Rob Quinn — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:00:18 CDT

Virginia has become the latest state to execute an inmate using a new cocktail of drugs for the lethal injection despite the manufacturer's objections. Jerry Jackson, 30, was executed for the 2001 rape and murder of an 88-year-old widow, Reuters reports. Pentobarbital, a drug used to treat epilepsy, was used...

Georgia Videotapes Execution

Rob Quinn — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:19:00 CDT

The state of Georgia put to death a man named Andrew DeYoung last night in what is believed to be the first videotaped US execution since 1992—and the first ever taped execution involving lethal injection. DeYoung, 37, consented to the filming, which was ordered by a judge in connection...

Drug Maker 'Horrified' It's Being Used in Executions

Kevin Spak — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:04:32 CDT

A Danish pharmaceutical company says it's desperately seeking a way to stop US prisons from executing people with its epilepsy drug Nembutal. “We are horrified at this fact, and we are looking at ways to prevent prisons from getting this drug,” a spokesman for Lundbeck A/S said. “At first we...

California Holds Off on Executions for 6th Year

Rob Quinn — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:21:13 CDT

Officials in California have given up on efforts to resume executing convicts this year, meaning that the state will have gone at least 6 years without executions. A review of lethal injection procedures has been delayed until at least January because the new warden of San Quentin prison wants to...