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
I doubt it's even on local tv live... How about it, Doug, Ernie, Norm, SCP? Any LIVE on site at SQ coverage?
The usual whiners have weighed in... Mike Farrell to name one idiot.
I am watching FNC and they're just replaying Hannity and Honmely.
Eleven minutes, now.
There, I fixed it for you.
lol
I checked CNN...not a thing. The professional whiners must be really PO'd...all this protesting and not a camera in sight!
I'm waiting... tick, tick, tick.
LOL! Not a camera in sight...lol.
I really want to see a shot of the idiots outside SQ.
Aye, we are waiting. It's so quiet.
Bet it wasn't quiet in that vineyard that night.
I'm not staying up to monitor this....well past my bedtime....Good Night!
And good riddance to the scumbag!
Death party pooper.
G'Nite Ernie.
Your tagline is scary.
LOL
"death" party pooper!
I read that it'll take 8 - 10 PEACEFUL minutes for the meds to end his sorry life.
Sacramento news10 has a message on the bottom of the screen, Execution has been delayed at least one hour.
Warden wants to make sure witnesses have received the proper instructions.
What instructions? "Watch closely"?
It's meant to be. It's true, and I think the 10% is way too low. More like 25% minimum, but the math is easiest using 10%...lol.
And don't cheer too loudly?
Oh good grief! It takes an hour to tell them what to do?
Good grief. DELAYED at least an hour!
Dave, I'm in Mississippi now and it's already approaching the hour of 2:00AM!
I hope the delay causes him untold stress!
Can't wait another hour, I have to get up in 5 hours for work.
Give a rousing cheer on my behalf if they actually do it this morning.
Sleep well, I will. Terri Winchell isn't available for comment.
He's like an in-your-face, male version of Zombietime.
It's priceless!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.