Murderer Executed Takes 34 Minutes To Die
POSTED: 12:37 pm EST December 13, 2006
UPDATED: 12:04 am EST December 14, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Angel Nieves Diaz, who was convicted of murdering a Miami topless bar manager 27 years ago, was executed by lethal injection Wednesday, appearing to grimace before dying 34 minutes after receiving the first of two doses of chemicals.
The manner of his death will almost certainly rekindle the argument that Florida's method of execution constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Diaz, 55, was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m., despite his protests of innocence and requests for clemency made by the governor of his native Puerto Rico. He appeared to move for 24 minutes after the first injection. His eyes were open, his mouth moved and his chest rose and fell. He was pronounced dead 10 minutes after his last movement.
In most Florida executions, the prisoner loses consciousness almost immediately and stops moving within three-to-five minutes. Two doctors watching a heart monitor then wait for it to show a flat line. They then inspect the body and pronounce death. The whole process happens within 15 minutes.
http://www.local6.com/news/10525956/detail.html