Ohio execution uses new drug method, appears to go wrong
- 10 years ago
An execution at this Ohio state prison appears to go horribly wrong.
The execution was done with a new two-drug lethal injection method, which was used for the first time in the United States.
Witnesses say this man, Dennis McGuire, convicted of rape and murder, convulsed and appeared to struggle for breath during his execution.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS TO EXECUTION SAYING:
"I would say for 10-13 minutes Mr. McGuire appeared to be gasping for air. I don't know if it was air hunger or exactly what it was but all I am going to tell you is that the description - he gasped deeply, there was kind of a rattling, guttural sound, there was kind of a snorting through his nose. Couple of times he definitely appeared to be choking."
McGuire received a combination of the sedative midazolam and the pain killer hydromorphone, a mix Ohio created as a substitute option.
The producer for Ohio's preferred drug had objected to its use in executions.
The execution was done with a new two-drug lethal injection method, which was used for the first time in the United States.
Witnesses say this man, Dennis McGuire, convicted of rape and murder, convulsed and appeared to struggle for breath during his execution.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS TO EXECUTION SAYING:
"I would say for 10-13 minutes Mr. McGuire appeared to be gasping for air. I don't know if it was air hunger or exactly what it was but all I am going to tell you is that the description - he gasped deeply, there was kind of a rattling, guttural sound, there was kind of a snorting through his nose. Couple of times he definitely appeared to be choking."
McGuire received a combination of the sedative midazolam and the pain killer hydromorphone, a mix Ohio created as a substitute option.
The producer for Ohio's preferred drug had objected to its use in executions.