[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ALABAMA, USA

[Rick Halperin]

February 7



ALABAMA----execution

Alabama executes inmate who wanted imam present


A Muslim inmate who complained in a legal challenge that Alabama wouldn't let 
his Islamic spiritual adviser be present in the execution chamber has been put 
to death after the nation's highest court cleared the way.

Authorities say 42-year-old Dominique Ray was pronounced dead Thursday night of 
a lethal injection at the state prison in Atmore.

Ray's attorneys had challenged Alabama's execution procedure, saying it favors 
Christian inmates because a Christian chaplain employed by the prison typically 
is in the chamber during an execution. Ray requested an imam instead but that 
was denied. The state said it refuses to let a non-prison employee into the 
execution room, but agreed not to have the chaplain present.

Ray's spiritual adviser watched from an adjoining witness room.

The U.S. Supreme Court overruled a lower court decision Wednesday staying the 
execution plans.

Ray was convicted of the 1995 murder of 15-year-old Tiffany Harville.

Ray becomes the 1st condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Alabama 
and the 64th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1983.

Ray becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA 
and the 1, 492nd overall since the nation resumed executions on Janaury 17, 
1977, about 7 months after the US Supreme Court re-legalized the death penalty 
nationwide in its July 2, 1976 Gregg v Georgia decision.

(sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin)


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USA----countdown to nation's 1500th execution

With the execution of Dominique Ray in Alabama on February 7, the USA has now 
executed 1,492 condemned individuals since the death penalty was
relegalized on July 2, 1976 in the US Supreme Court Gregg v Georgia decision. 
Gary Gilmore was the first perons executed, in Utah, on January 17, 1977.

Below is a list of scheduled executions as the nation approaches a terrible 
milestone of 1500 executions in the modern era.

NOTE: The list is likely to change over the coming months as new execution 
dates are added and possible stays of execution occur.


1493-------Feb. 28------------Billy Coble----------------Texas

1494-------Mar. 28------------Patrick Murphy------------Texas

1495-------Apr. 11------------Mark Robertson------------Texas

1496-------Apr. 24------------John King------------------Texas

1497-------May 2--------------Dexter Johnson------------Texas

1498-------May 16-------------Donnie Johnson-----------Tennessee

1499-------May 29-------------Cleveland Jackson--------Ohio

1500-------July 10--------------Kareem Jackson----------Ohio

1501-------Aug. 14-------------Gregory Lott---------------Ohio

(source: Rick Halperin)