Posted on 08/23/2007 8:41:58 AM PDT by Parmenio
HUNTSVILLE, United States (AFP) - A convicted murderer on Wednesday was put to death by lethal injection, in Texas' 400 execution since the US Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.
Johnny Conner was pronounced dead at 1820 pm (2320 GMT), eight minutes after he was injected with the lethal concoction.
"What is happening to me now is unjust and the system is broken," said the 32-year-old African American in his final statement.
"At the same time, I bear witness there is no God but Allah and the Prophet Muhammed. Unto Allah, I belong, unto Allah I return. I love you," were his last words.
Since the 1976 reinstatement, Texas has accounted for more than one-third of the total 1091 executions carried out country-wide. This year, with other states now reticent, it will account for nearly two-thirds.
Ahead of Conner's execution, the southern state had carried out 20 of the 34 US judicial killings in 2007.
By comparison, 12 of the 50 states refused to restore capital punishment in 1976; four did but have not since executed anyone; and 14 have had five or fewer executions.
Conner was sentenced to die for the May 17, 1998 shooting death a gasoline pump grocery store owner during a holdup.
In 2005, a federal judge annulled Conner's death sentence because his defense lawyers' shoddy work -- they failed to summon any witnesses in his favor, but the ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court in January.
Earlier this month, the European Union had urged Texas Governor Rick Perry to consider a moratorium for all executions scheduled by his state.
Perru (sic) rejected the appeal, suggesting it was out of place since the United States asserted its independence from Britain in the 18th century.
Perhaps we should advise the EU to re-institute the death penalty. I’m sure they’d appreciate our advice.
“What do Muslims do on their 73rd day in heaven when all the virgins are used up?”
Who says they’re in heaven?
Yep, need another one or two zeros on the end of it to be where it should I think.
An editorial comment from the copy editor? ;)
They missed an ideal opportunity for corporate sponsorhip, how about the ‘Texas 400’ ?!?
I smell franchise potential here folks.
“I hope Texas did this in response to the E.U. yesterday asking them to stop the death penalty.”
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that isn’t he reason we greased this clown. We here in Texas do not actually give a tinkers’s d@amn what Euros or anyone else, for that matter, thinks of us.
You may think that we were just bragging, but it is simply true.
Couldn’t care less...
What do Muslims do on the 73d day in Heaven?
Well, as it turns out some smart Muslim doubters asked that very question some time ago. The Immans came up with the answer that the virgins in heaven are a special kind of woman that does not exist on earth. Those women are perpetual virgins, do not menstrate, ever get B.O., don’t nag, and etc.
I’m not making this up.
“Do you get a prize for being #400? Maybe an extra virgin”?
...an extra virgin goat. In stockings.
You mean ‘Tater Salad’?
He’s pretty funny.
Now that’s scary.. I just saw a “Goats for Sale” sign on the side of the highway on the way home today.
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.