US Supreme Court spares Arkansas inmate from execution

VARNER, Ark. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court spared the life of an Arkansas inmate minutes before his death warrant was set to expire Monday, scuttling efforts to resume capital punishment after nearly 12 years in a state with an aggressive plan to carry out four double executions before its supply of a lethal injection drug expires.

The court's decision was the second time Don Davis had been granted a reprieve shortly before execution — he was within hours of death in 2010. It capped a chaotic day of legal wrangling in state and federal courts to clear the primary obstacles Arkansas faced to carrying out its first executions since 2005.

Davis had been served a last meal of fried chicken, rolls, beans, mashed potatoes and strawberry cake hours earlier, and witnesses were being moved toward the execution chamber when the Supreme Court ruled. The state was rushing to win approval to execute Davis before his death warrant expired at midnight.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/us/5121114-us-supreme-court-spares-arkansas-inmate-execution.html#.1258-stage-hero1-4

https://www.mail.com/int/news/us/5121672-latest-arkansas-governor-disappointed-delay.html#.1258-stage-hero1-5

I am not against the death penalty completely, LL - some crimes are so heinous, some killers so undeniably guilty, that they, IMO, qualify for the Mad Dog treatment.

I really, really dislike the theatrics around US elections, though - the stays, the audience, all that.

IMO, a quick trip to the gallows was much preferable, but the UK justice system fouled up totally in the 40s and 50s when it executed several innocent/mentally ill people.

It's appalling that poor Ruth Ellis was hung, and the Moors Murderers weren't - indeed, were feted by half-wit luvvies. That's not justice.

I agree, the idea of sitting in a cell for years, always aware that at any time you could be taken down the corridor and put to death watched, as if it was entertainment, is appalling. It is a very nasty form of torture, in my view. LL

I have just re-read what I posted:

I really, really dislike the theatrics around US elections, though - the stays, the audience, all that.

Freudian slip? Not enough coffee?

I'll go with that, Bonny.