[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TENNESSEE

[Rick Halperin]

October 11



TENNESSEE:

Judge grants Edmund Zagorski's request not to be executed by lethal injection


A judge has granted Tennessee death row inmate Edmund Zagorski's request not to 
be executed by lethal injection.

On Thursday, Judge Aleta Trauger of the U.S. District Court for the Middle 
District of Tennessee granted Zagorski’s motion and enjoined Tennessee state 
officials from executing Mr. Zagorski using the state’s three-drug lethal 
injection protocol.
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He is slated to be executed at 7 p.m. Thursday while legal battle rage on for 
consideration of arguments that he had poor legal representation during his 
trial and sentencing.

“Tennessee’s death penalty statute makes it clear that Mr. Zagorski has the 
right to choose execution by electrocution. While being burned alive and 
mutilated via electricity is not a good death, Mr. Zagorski knows that death by 
electric chair will be much quicker than lethal injection using midazolam, a 
paralytic, and potassium chloride.

It is my hope that Tennessee state authorities work to find a method for 
carrying out executions that satisfies the Eighth Amendment’s requirement that 
the government refrain from torture.” - Zagorski's attorney, Kelley Henry

Meanwhile, Tennessee Department of Corrections officials are on stand by for 
the execution.

Another stay was granted, but an appeal is also being filed in the case.

(source: WZTV News)