Posted on 02/20/2006 9:39:36 PM PST by doug from upland
Edited on 02/21/2006 1:53:21 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
UPDATE: CDC OFFICIAL CALLS MORALES 'UPBEAT' AND 'COOPERATIVE' 02/20/06 8:55 PST SAN QUENTIN (BCN)
In the hours before his execution at San Quentin State Prison, condemned inmate Michael Morales met only with his legal team and has been described by a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation official as "upbeat'' and "cooperative.''
Morales, 46, was moved into what is known as the death watch cell at 6 p.m. today, according to CDC spokeswoman Elaine Jennings.
The move came just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court denied Morales' final two appeals.
Jennings said Morales has been described as "upbeat'' and "very positive.'' He has also been "very cooperative'' with prison staff, she said.
He did not meet with family members or a spiritual adviser today.
Morales picked a last meal; however, details about the meal, as well as his last words, will be disclosed by the prison's warden after the execution.
Morales is scheduled to be executed Tuesday morning by lethal injection for the 1981 murder of 17-year-old Terri Winchell of Lodi.
Then 21, Morales strangled Winchell with a belt, beat her over the head with a hammer, then pulled her body into a vineyard where he raped her and stabbed her to death.
As part of a federal judge's order, an anesthesiologist will be present in the execution chamber to ensure that Morales is unconscious before his final drugs are administered, according to Jennings.
The anesthesiologist will not be identified and may choose to hide his identity, possibly using a surgical mask, Jennings said. An alternate anesthesiologist will be just outside the chamber.
Jennings said the drug cocktail -- 5 grams of sodium pentothal to stop muscle movement, 50 cc of pancuronium bromide to stop breathing and 50 cc of potassium chloride to stop the heart -- will remain the same during Tuesday's execution.
"This is our protocol,'' Jennings said, adding that her agency believes the lethal injection process is "humane'' and "painless.''
Five of Winchell's family members will be present during the execution. Morales has designated two witnesses, according to Jennings.
__________
Update: Morales Execution Delayed
Feb 21, 2006 1:19 am US/Pacific
(BCN) SAN FRANCISCO The execution of condemned inmate Michael Morales has been delayed for at least one hour while the execution team reviews its roles during the process, according to San Quentin spokesman Vernell Crittendon.
San Quentin State Prison Warden Steven Ornoski wants to go over additional training for some of the new members of the execution team, which includes two anesthesiologists, Crittendon said.
Crittendon announced the delay at 11:30 p.m.
As part of a Federal Judge's recent order an anesthesiologist will be present in the execution chamber to insure Morales is unconscious before the final drugs are administered. An alternate anesthesiologist will be just outside the chamber.
Morales was scheduled to be executed today by lethal injection for the 1981 murder of 17-year-old Terri Winchell of Lodi.
Crittendon said Morales had not been notified of the delay. He said the execution warrant is good for 24 hours.
"There is no need for us to rush into this if the warden is not completely comfortable with the process," he said.
This is not the first execution to experience delays.
(Bay City News)
Morales Execution Delayed
A couple of good wacks on the head with the hammer he used on Terri should put him out long enough to feel no pain.
That'll work!
Oh for crying out loud. The doctor is queasy. The ruling by the damn Clinton appointee ( Judge Fogel) required the attendance of the anesthesiologist and the head of the CMA whined that doctors shouldn't participate in the taking of lives. Abortions ok, but not the lives of cretins.
This is an end around game. I am LIVID.
Over here, VVV.
This is OUTRAGEOUS!
Read the linked article in post #159.
JMJ. This is outrageous.
They may have to reset the date.
Oh, but of course. That's been the idea all along.
UNREAL.
TY for clearing that up
G'Nite everybody, although it's not been a good night execution wise.
Nite to you broom... your screen name is too long to ping!
There's been yet another delay in the scheduled execution of convicted killer Michael Morales out at San Quentin State Prison.
According to the prison, Morales' defense team has some new objections to the way the procedure will be carried out and they're asking a U.S. District judge in San Jose to stay the execution.
That judge is expected to rule soon, and prison officials say they expect the request to be denied.
But the prison is also allowing time for Morales defense team to appeal any denial to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Just over an hour ago, the execution was delayed to give the anesthesiologists additional training.
It seems prison officials weren't totally comfortable with a new system of administering the lethal chemicals as dictated by a recent court decision.
Under the new procedure, prison officials retained an anesthesiologist to certify that Morales would be unconscious from a sedative before another doctor administered the drug designed to stop his heart.
The 46-year-old Morales was sentenced to death for torturing, raping and murdering a Lodi teenager 25 years ago.
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_052043200.html
good night
PROTEST: Bill Olin of Berkeley, holds a sign with other protesters outside the east gates of San Quentin State Prison.
(Robert Durell / LAT)
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2006-02/22065647.jpg
It seems he is a regular at executions...
http://tinyurl.com/qmrwl
He works here...
http://tinyurl.com/mbmsd
This is absolutely outrageous.
An end around game.
When SCOTUS said "no" today, that should have ended this BS.
I am livid.
Imagine the family of the victim!!!
The pain of the victims family apparently means no more than the pain and suffering of the victim.
Oh, I am! Her poor, suffering family. My heart goes out to them.
This is just so damn outrageous. I recall the night Robert Alton Harris was finally put to death in the gas chamber. He got a last minute temporary stay and then SCOTUS stepped in and told all the lower courts to knock it off.
I am so mad and upset now, forget trying to sleep.
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