A person has been executed in America for a 1997 killing, regardless of the parole board recommending that his life be spared.
James Coddington obtained a deadly injection on the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and died on Thursday morning.
The 50-year-old was convicted and sentenced to dying for beating 73-year-old Albert Hale to dying with a hammer 25 years in the past.
Prosecutors say Coddington, then 24, grew to become enraged when Mr Hale refused to offer him cash to purchase cocaine.
During a clemency listening to this month earlier than the state’s Pardon and Parole Board, an emotional Coddington apologised to Mr Hale’s household and mentioned he was a unique man right now.
“I’m clean, I know God, I’m not a vicious murderer,” Coddington advised the board. “If this ends today with my death sentence, okay.”
But Mitch Hale, Albert Hale’s son, urged the parole board to not advocate clemency and mentioned this week he was relieved on the determination to let the execution go forward.
“Our family can put this behind us after 25 years,” Mr Hale, 64, mentioned.
“No one is ever happy that someone’s dying, but [Coddington] chose this path… he knew what the consequences are, he rolled the dice and lost.”
Coddington’s lawyer, Emma Rolls, advised the panel that Coddington was impaired by years of alcohol and drug abuse that started as an toddler when his father put beer and whiskey into his child bottles.
The panel voted 3-2 to advocate clemency, though Hale’s household had urged towards it.
However, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, denied the parole board’s advice.
Source: information.sky.com”