[DiamondSmiles]

Reuters Facebook

October 14, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, — An execution scheduled in Florida on Tuesday will be the first using the drug midazolam hydrochloride despite concerns it might not work as promised and could inflict cruel and unusual punishment on a death row inmate.

Midazolam, typically used by doctors for sedation, will be the first of three drugs pumped into William Happ as part of a lethal injection cocktail designed to induce unconsciousness, paralysis and death by cardiac arrest.

The first of the drugs administered as part of the lethal injection, "protocol," in Florida has long been the barbiturate pentobarbital. But Florida, and other death penalty states that use a trio of drugs as part of their injection procedures, have been running out of pentobarbital since its manufacturer clamped a ban on its use in future executions.

The 51-year-old Happ, who has abandoned his appeals and said he is ready to die, was condemned for the 1986 abduction, rape and murder of Angie Crowley, whose body was found on a canal bank near Crystal River in central Florida.

"This is somewhat of an experiment on a living human being," Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, said Monday.

"The three-drug process depends on the first drug rendering the inmate unconscious and, if he is only partially unconscious, the inmate could be experiencing extreme pain," he added. "Because the second drug paralyzes him, he would be unable to cry out or show that he's in pain."

Just last week, Missouri postponed an execution set for October 23, due to uncertainty about using a different drug, propofol, as a substitute for pentobarbital.

Misty Cash, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections, declined to comment on how the state could rest assured that midazolam would avoid inflicting pain and suffering on Happ.

But she said the prison system, "did research and determined that this is the most humane and dignified way to do the procedure."

She refused to identify a research laboratory or other source of the department's scientific data, citing an exemption in state public record laws that also meant that the supplier of midazolam hydrochloride for executions could remain anonymous.

"We're not talking about details," she said. "That could impact the safety and security of the process."

Happ's lawyer, Eric Pinkard of St. Petersburg, said there are no late motions to stay the execution. Happ told a circuit judge in Inverness, Florida last month that he did not want to continue the court appeals that have kept him on Florida's Death Row for nearly a quarter-century.

Happ's execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT), on Tuesday at the Florida State Prison in Starke.

Another condemned Florida prisoner, Etheria Jackson, has a hearing set for a November 6 in Jacksonville's federal court, challenging the use of midazolam.
Jackson's appeal contends that there is, "substantial risk," of midazolam not working completely, violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of, "cruel and unusual punishment," by subjecting the condemned to a painful paralysis and fatal heart seizure over several minutes.

Cruel and unusual punishment? Pisses me off! What about what they did Boofuckinghoo!

Thank you to gata for the update

[Megamel29]

"The three-drug process depends on the first drug rendering the inmate unconscious and, if he is only partially unconscious, the inmate could be experiencing extreme pain," he added. "Because the second drug paralyzes him, he would be unable to cry out or show that he's in pain."


So they'll know briefly what their victim felt. I don't feel bad for them. If I thought he was innocent then I would but I don't see any reason to.

[JONESJIM]

i only care about what "its" last meal was....

[Oswald2001]

Most barbiturates are essentially the same.

In high enough doses, they are lethal.

It's not rocket science.

If this is such a concern for someone, consider NOT doing the crime.

[petedeamon]

I vote for painfully agonizing and very, very slow.

[gatagato]

Florida murderer executed using untried death drug writhes in pain and takes longer to die after controversial lethal injection

• William Happ, who killed and raped Angie Crowley, 21, in 1986, was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. Tuesday at Florida State Prison in Starke
  
• He was the first to be injected with the drug midazolam hydrochloride despite concerns it might not work as promised or could inflict undue pain
  
• It appeared Happ remained conscious longer and made more body movements after losing consciousness than people executed using the old drug cocktail
  
• Drug replaces the barbiturate pentobarbital, which has long been the first of the drugs administered in Florida but the state has been running out of it
  
• It's believed the use of the drug was successful and now other death penalty states are likely to begin using it

A Florida man convicted of raping and murdering a pretty 21-year-old in 1986 blinked repeatedly and shook his head back and forth as he was executed by lethal injection of a controversial, never-before-used drug.
William Happ, 51, was the first death row inmate to be injected with the drug midazolam hydrochloride despite concerns it might not work as promised and could inflict cruel and unusual punishment on a death row inmate.
The execution began at 6:02 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Starke. Happ's eyes opened and he blinked several times. He closed them and opened them again two minutes later. He then yawned and his jaw dropped open.
At 6:08 p.m., the official overseeing the execution tugged at Happ's eyelids and grasped his shoulder to check for a response. There was none.
A minute later, Happ's head began moving back and forth and shortly thereafter his breathing stopped. He was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.
It appeared Happ remained conscious longer and made more body movements after losing consciousness than other people executed recently by lethal injection under the old formula.

Midazolam, typically used by doctors for sedation, was the first of three drugs pumped into Happ as part of a lethal injection cocktail designed to induce unconsciousness, paralysis and death by cardiac arrest.
The first of the drugs administered as part of the lethal injection 'protocol' in Florida has long been the barbiturate pentobarbital. But Florida, and other death penalty states that use a trio of drugs as part of their injection procedures, have been running out of pentobarbital since its manufacturer clamped a ban on its use in future executions.
'This is somewhat of an experiment on a living human being,' Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, said Monday.
'The three-drug process depends on the first drug rendering the inmate unconscious and, if he is only partially unconscious, the inmate could be experiencing extreme pain,' he added. 'Because the second drug paralyzes him, he would be unable to cry out or show that he's in pain.'


The 51-year-old Happ, who had abandoned his appeals and said he was ready to die, was condemned for the 1986 abduction, rape and murder of Angie Crowley, whose body was found on a canal bank near Crystal River in central Florida.
Happ was calm when he met with two spiritual advisers, including a Roman Catholic priest who administered last rites, according to Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jessica Cary.
For his last meal, Happ had a 12-ounce box of assorted chocolates and 1 1/2 quarts of German chocolate ice cream.
'To my agonizing shame, I must confess to the crime,' he said in a slow, deliberate voice before the injection was given. 'I wish to offer my most sincere, heartfelt apology. I have prayed for the good Lord to forgive me for my sins. But I understand why those here cannot.'

Crowley's mother and two siblings died before they could see the sentence carried out, but Crowley's surviving sisters and brothers traveled to Starke to watch as Happ was executed.


Just last week, Missouri postponed an execution set for October 23 due to uncertainty about using a different drug, propofol, as a substitute for pentobarbital.
Misty Cash, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections, declined to comment on how the state could rest assured that midazolam would avoid inflicting pain and suffering on Happ.
But she said the prison system 'did research and determined that this is the most humane and dignified way to do the procedure.'
She refused to identify a research laboratory or other source of the department's scientific data, citing an exemption in state public record laws that also meant that the supplier of midazolam hydrochloride for executions could remain anonymous.
'We're not talking about details,' she said. 'That could impact the safety and security of the process.'
Happ's lawyer, Eric Pinkard of St. Petersburg, said there are no late motions to stay the execution. Happ told a circuit judge in Inverness, Florida last month that he did not want to continue the court appeals that have kept him on Florida's Death Row for nearly a quarter-century.
Another condemned Florida prisoner, Etheria Jackson, has a hearing set for a November 6 in Jacksonville's federal court, challenging the use of midazolam.
Jackson's appeal contends that there is 'substantial risk' of midazolam not working completely, violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of 'cruel and unusual punishment' by subjecting the condemned to a painful paralysis and fatal heart seizure over several minutes.

Angie Crowley was making her first long trip through Florida on Memorial Day weekend in 1986 but she never arrived at her destination.

[Megamel29]

So now what? Gas chamber? Firing squad sounds too messy. I mean, I don't care if a rapist/murderer suffers but it's against the Constitution.

If I remember correctly the reason for the shortage of this drug is the company who made it was opposed to the death penalty so they stopped manufacturing the drug or stopped selling it for the purpose of the death penalty. So is this humane? I mean, I guess I understand them not wanting their product to be used for something they are morally opposed to. It's just a crazy situation.

[DRZrider]

just bury them alive

[Sharon]

They should be able top feel extreme pain, fuck 'em.

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

So now what? Gas chamber? Firing squad sounds too messy. I mean, I don't care if a rapist/murderer suffers but it's against the Constitution.

If I remember correctly the reason for the shortage of this drug is the company who made it was opposed to the death penalty so they stopped manufacturing the drug or stopped selling it for the purpose of the death penalty. So is this humane? I mean, I guess I understand them not wanting their product to be used for something they are morally opposed to. It's just a crazy situation.

I think the family should decide.

Some countries suck in other ways, but, I like the way they execute people

I liked Old Sparky and the firing squad, assuming they have the right person, of course.