Execution causes stir

News

December 14, 2006

Anonymous Picayune Item Thu Dec 14, 2006, 11:24 AM CST

STARKE, Fla. — Death penalty opponents criticized the execution of a convicted murderer who took more than half an hour to die and needed a rare second dose of lethal chemicals.

Angel Nieves Diaz, 55, convicted of murdering a Miami topless bar manager 27 years ago, appeared to grimace before dying 34 minutes after receiving a double lethal chemical dose Wednesday.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said she doesn’t believe Diaz felt any pain. She said Diaz started snoring and became unconscious after the first three drugs were administered and never regained consciousness.

Plessinger said Diaz had liver disease, which required the second dose of lethal chemicals. But Diaz’s cousin Maria Otero said the family had no knowledge that he suffered from liver disease and said the execution was political.

“Who came down to Earth and gave you the right to kill somebody?” Otero said, referring to Gov. Jeb Bush. “Why a stupid second dose?”

Bush said in a statement that the Department of Corrections followed all protocols: “A preexisting medical condition of the inmate was the reason tonight’s procedure took longer than recent procedures carried out this year,” the statement said.

Diaz was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m., despite his protests of innocence and requests for clemency made by the governor of his native Puerto Rico.

A spokesman for Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, called Diaz’s death a botched execution.

“They had to execute him twice,” Mark Elliot said. “If Floridians could witness the pain and the agony of the executed man’s family, they would end the death penalty.”

In most Florida executions, the prisoner loses consciousness almost immediately and stops moving within three-to-five minutes.

Text Only

News

Preliminary results from Tuesday's election
These are results from Tuesday's election, not all precincts are accounted for.

August 2, 2011
Bonomo found not guilty
May 26, 2010
MDOT to four lane 607 The Mississippi Department of Transportation will be seeking public comment on their need for right of way acquisition to four lane State Route 607.
June 13, 2009
Utility Authority awarded grant for Poplarville water well, tank hursday’s meeting of the Pearl River County Utility Authority was highlighted by the awarding of a grant for installation of increased water infrastructure for the Poplarville area and the resignation of authority vice president Don Durham.
March 9, 2007 1 Photo
Bush expected to offer new ideas on domestic issues and defend Iraq policy in Tuesday night address Delivering his first State of the Union address to a Democratic-controlled Congress, President Bush hopes to balance a rebuke of his Iraq policy already promised by lawmakers with a high-profile invitation to cooperate on vexing domestic problems.
January 23, 2007
Execution causes stir Death penalty opponents criticized the execution of a convicted murderer who took more than half an hour to die and needed a rare second dose of lethal chemicals.
December 14, 2006
FLAGS LINE BOULEVAR
November 10, 2006 1 Photo
Astronauts discuss another successful mission Plans to finish the International Space station seem to be shaping up nicely as another mission to install a solar array on the station was a smashing success.
October 27, 2006 1 Photo
Operations shoulder tap keeps kids safe Concerned parents’ calls about their teenagers gaining access to alcohol and tobacco prompted the Picayune Police Department to take action with help from the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.

September 30, 2006
Public hearing set for new fees for building The Picayune Police Department and the Picayune City Council last night recognized Matthew Fleming for his assistance in saving a child from drowning at a local apartment complex.
September 20, 2006 1 Photo
More News Headlines

News

Search Results

Execution causes stir

Site Map

Contact Us