[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS

[Rick Halperin]

April 24



TEXAS----execution

2nd man executed for 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr.


The man sentenced to death for one of the most gruesome murders in modern 
American history showed no remorse before his execution.

John William King was executed by the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville on 
Wednesday for the 1998 death of James Byrd Jr. in east Texas.

King was put on death row for chaining Byrd to the back of a truck and dragging 
his body for nearly three miles along a secluded road in the piney woods 
outside of Jasper.

Prison officials met with King on Wednesday, and they say he appeared calm.

"He didn't say much," Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesperson, Jeremy 
Desel, recalled. "His attitude seemed very calm and put together."

King had no supporters in the room while he was executed, but 2 of Byrd's 
sisters and his niece were present.

Over the past couple of days, King met with a chaplain, friends and other 
visitors. Visitors say he treated his execution day like any other day.

"He did appear to have slept at least some last night, a couple of hours," 
Desel said. "Then, did what many offenders tend to do, tidy up his cell in 
preparation for the rest of his day."

King received nearly 100 interview requests over the past 6 months, but 
officials say he turned them all down.

In his only television interview with ABC News in 2004, King maintained his 
innocence.

"Even if they say, 'Well, he might be innocent. He probably wasn't there. So 
what? Apathy. They don't care about white racists," King said. "Just because 
we're white racists, well, one less one. Kill them."

King becomes the 3rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Texas and 
the 561st overall since the state resumed capital punishmen on December 7, 
1982.

King becomes the 43rd condemned inmate to be put to death since Greg Abbott 
became Governor in 2015.

3 men were convicted for killing Byrd. Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed in 
2011 and Shawn Allen Berry was sentenced to life in prison.

King becomes the 4th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA 
and the 1,494th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 
1977.


(sources: KTRK & Rick Halperin)

****************





Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present----43




Executions in Texas:  Dec. 7, 1982----present-----561

Abbott#--------scheduled execution date-----name------------Tx. #




44---------May 2------------------Dexter Johnson----------562

45---------Aug. 21----------------Larry Swearingen--------563

46---------Sept. 4----------------Billy Crutsinger--------564

(sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin)



************************






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

With the execution of John King in Texas on April 24, the USA has now
executed 1,494 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 1st person 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.



1495-------May 2--------------Scotty Morrow--------------Georgia

1496-------May 2--------------Dexter Johnson------------Texas

1497-------May 16-------------Donnie Johnson-----------Tennessee

1498-------May 16-------------Michael Samra------------Alabama

1499-------May 23-------------Robert Long--------------Florida

1500-------Aug. 15------------Stephen West-------------Tennessee

1501-------Aug. 21------------Larry Swearingen---------Texas

1502-------Sept. 4------------Billy Crutsinger---------Texas

1503------Sept. 12------------Warren Henness-----------Ohio

(source: Rick Halperin)