Ohio Execution of Christopher Newton Delayed an Hour
It was reported by the Associated Press the execution team tried at least 10 times to stick Newton before being able to place the shunts. These are needed for needle placement so the lethal chemical can be injected.
Newton was in good spirits during the whole process. According to the Associated Press report, he was laughing and joking with the prison staff. He was even allowed a bathroom break.
Newton was moved from the holding cell to the death chamber, and strapped to a table. He was quoted by the Associated Press and saying, "Yes, boy, I could sure go for some beef stew and a chicken bone. That's it."
Christopher Newton, age 37, was pronounced dead at 11:53 am. The execution had been scheduled to happen at 10:00am, according to the Associated Press.
The public defender's office did not attempt to intervene when the execution was delayed.
"You have to remember that Newton wanted to die. Our job isn't to oppose the death penalty, it's to represent our clients," said Greg Meyer, chief counsel for the Ohio Public Defender's Office.
Normal time for an execution is about an hour. There is a group of Ohio inmates that have filed suit, stating the lethal injection method used in Ohio is "unconstitutionally cruel". The American Civil Liberty's Union did ask the state to stop all executions because of the delays in Thursday's incident, according to reports in the Associated Press.
The Associated Press quoted Gov. Ted Strickland: "The procedure worked as it was intended to work," Strickland said. "If someone is against the death penalty then I can understand why they would want me to have a moratorium on the death penalty, but I think what happened today is not any supporting justification for that."
In 2001, Newton beat and killed a fellow cell mate, Jason Brewer. The Associated Press reported they had argued over playing chess. Brewer would always want to give up during the game. Newton was aggravated by this.
After the execution, a statement by Newton was read by public defender Robert Lowe. "If I could take it back, I would," the statement said. "To my family, I love you and I'm sorry."
Source: Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press; "Hour-Plus Delay In Ohio Lethal Injection"
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3 Comments
Post a CommentTo whomever wrote the ignorant post before me.. I hope that made you feel better about yourself. To me you are no better than him for what you said. Grow up.
I knew Chris, we would call him fig as in fig Newton. We both use to live at the Berea Childrens Home and I never liked him. I remember one time when I was 12 he was almost 16 years old. We were directing traffic for the Baldwin Wallace football game and he wanted to ride my bike. I told him no. He pushed me to the ground and twisted my neck. He said if I make one more move he would snap my neck.... It does not bother me how he died, just as long as he is no longer hurting or killing other people. And reguardless of what Ohio law says about lethal injection being cruel, He at least had a choice. The inmate he killed had no choice in the matter. Had it been up to me I would of broken a bone on him each day up to his day to be killed
Normal time for execution by lethal injection is roughly 20 minuets and that is long