America’s Long and Gruesome History of Botched Executions

Two weeks ago things went horribly wrong with the execution of Clayton D. Lockett, a 38-year old Oklahoma man convicted of shooting a young woman and burying her alive. After executioners initiated what was meant to be a lethal injection, Lockett began writhing and tried to rise from the table; he died of an apparent heart attack 43 minutes after the procedure began. But we should not be surprised, says Austin Sarat, a professor of jurisprudence and political science at Amherst College. Sarat has researched the history of botched executions in the United States--and there have been plenty.

















from WIRED » Science http://feeds.wired.com/c/35185/f/661470/s/3a520c2d/sc/8/l/0L0Swired0N0C20A140C0A50Cbotched0Eexecutions0Eaustin0Esarat0C/story01.htm

via Science News