Official says Fla. execution was botched, Jebby suspends all executions

[Herman Munster]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_re_us/florida_execution

OCALA, Fla. - Gov. Jeb Bush suspended all executions in Florida after a medical examiner said Friday that officials botched the insertion of the needles when a convicted killer was put to death earlier this week.

Dr. William Hamilton, who performed the autopsy, said the execution of Angel Nieves Diaz took 34 minutes — twice as long as usual — and required a rare second dose of lethal chemicals because the needles were inserted all the way through his veins and into the flesh in his arms. The lethal chemicals are supposed to go into the veins.

Hamilton refused to say whether he thought Diaz died a painful death.

"I am going to defer answers about pain and suffering until the autopsy is complete," he said. He said the results were preliminary and other tests may take several weeks.

Bush created a commission to examine the state's lethal injection process in light of Diaz's case, and he halted the signing of any more death warrants until the panel completes its final report by March 1.

The governor said he wants to ensure the process does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, as some death penalty foes argued bitterly after Wednesday's execution.

Diaz, 55, was put to death for murdering of the manager of a Miami topless bar during a holdup in 1979.

[kestrel91316]

1. This is VERY bad. The drugs we euthanize dogs and cats with

are VERY painful if given outside of a vein by mistake (in the subcutis). Plus, they DON'T WORK if they don't quickly circulate to the brain.

What a mess. I rarely feel sympathy for murderers when they get executed, but this is one time I have to say was CRUEL AND UNUSUAL punishment.

[applegrove]

2. Absolutely disgusting. With Super Jails..we should all be beyond

executions in the West.