Posted on 01/14/2009 8:45:45 PM PST by Zakeet
A man convicted of murdering three people during a night of robberies more than 13 years ago in Fort Worth was put to death Wednesday evening in the nation's first execution of the year.
In a brief, final statement, Curtis Moore, 40, thanked a woman who administers to the spiritual needs of death row inmates.
"I want to thank you for all the beautiful years of friendship and ministry," Moore told Irene Wilcox as she watched through a window a few feet (meters) from him. Moore never acknowledged a man who survived his attacks or five relatives of the three who died.
He was pronounced dead eight minutes after the lethal drugs began flowing.
Moore exhausted his appeals in the courts. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles earlier this week refused a clemency petition that said he could be mentally retarded and ineligible for the death penalty. Courts earlier rejected similar mental retardation claims.
Moore was the first of six prisoners scheduled to die this month in Texas, the nation's most active death penalty state.
He already made one trip to the Huntsville death house, in 2002, but was returned less than three hours before he could have received lethal injection when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed his mental retardation claims could be reviewed. Last October, the high court refused his appeal, clearing the way for Wednesday's punishment date.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
More about this excellent citizen here.
It took the SOB 8 minutes to die...One can only hope that he was conscious and aware for a good part of them.
Date of Offense 8/15/1968 Age (at the time of Offense) 40
?
Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you dont get straight
Youll surely go to he'll
But johnny didnt care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didnt wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster
His teachers didnt understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didnt want to learn things
(had other interests)
He liked to burn things
The lady down the block
She had a radio that johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really cant blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He's our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldnt help it
Only a lad
He didnt want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
His parents gave up they couldnt influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude
And when he stole the car
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didnt mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry
Only a lad
He really couldnt help it
Only a lad
He didnt want to do it
Only a lad
Hes underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused
It's not his fault that he cant believe
It's not his fault that he cant behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if were nice he'll go away
Perhaps he'll go away
He'll go away
(repeat chorus)
Hey there johnny you really dont fool me
You get away with murder
And you think its funny
You dont give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there johnny boy
I hope you fry!
Moore's appeals in the courts were exhausted. On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected a clemency request that cited his possible mental retardation as reason to spare him.
I'm so glad our death row inmates have years to enjoy themselves while the families of those they murdered have to endure day after day of endless legal appeals.
I must be getting old. There are people being put to death who are younger then me!
Mass. has no death penalty; Boston-based conservative talk host (yes, there are some!) Howie Carr will play a snippet of the country song “God Bless Texas” every time Texas
puts a criminal to death.
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