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Man Maintains Innocence in Couple's Killings During Lethal Injection
foxnews.com ^ | February 04, 2009

Posted on 02/04/2009 8:17:00 PM PST by fallingwater

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While he was strapped onto a prison gurney awaiting execution, inmate Steve Henley said he hoped for peace for the family of the couple he was convicted of killing.

And Henley proclaimed, as he had since 1985, that he wasn't guilty of murdering Fred and Edna Stafford and setting their home on fire.

Henley was put to death by lethal injection early Wednesday after exhausting all legal appeals a few of hours before the execution.

"I'd like to say I hope this gives Fred and Edna's family some peace," Henley said in his last statement. "From my experience in life it won't. The death of a family member never brings anything but pain."

Henley talked with his two adult children who were watching from an execution viewing room at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution until he said he could feel the cocktail take effect.

His daughter, Leanne, blew him a kiss, and his son, Gregory, gave a thumbs-up. Henley's sister, Stephanie Worley, and son-in-law also attended.

"Stop that crying," Henley told his family as he playfully stuck out his tongue. "Y'all are a pitiful bunch."

Henley's head then rolled back onto the gurney, and he began to snore.

Stacy Rector, his spiritual adviser of 10 years, led the family's recitation of the Lord's Prayer as they clung to each other. Leanne Henley vomited into a trash can between her feet.

A nephew of the victims also witnessed the execution from a separate room.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: crime; deathpenalty; stevehenley
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To: Drew68

Didn’t see you had that part from another’s posting, sorry.


61 posted on 02/05/2009 9:59:38 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: snarks_when_bored
Thanks for letting me know that; I would argue instead that Gary Ridgeway is the best argument *for* the death penalty, if we can catch and accurately convict the guilty quickly enough.

Catching him after his 2nd murder would have prevented another 48+ killings. What would the % decrease in the murder rate be from that (and as they say on the diet and exercise commercials, results not typical)...

Cheers!

62 posted on 02/05/2009 9:17:16 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers
...I would argue instead that Gary Ridgeway is the best argument *for* the death penalty, if we can catch and accurately convict the guilty quickly enough.

In the Ridgeway case, the problem is twofold: (1) he wasn't caught until he had killed over 50 women; (2) prosecutors made a deal with him that allowed him to escape execution by agreeing to tell where missing bodies were to be found.

Should Ridgeway have been executed? Absolutely. Is he going to be? No. In light of these facts, my argument stands, I believe: the death penalty for anything less than a mass murderer is unjust. If the Ridgeway case were to be reviewed, his non-execution deal were to be overturned, and he were to be executed, I would withdraw my argument.

63 posted on 02/05/2009 11:13:32 PM PST by snarks_when_bored
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