Witnesses say it appears Nebraska's first execution in 21 years went smoothly

[Omaha Steve]

By Paul Hammel

LINCOLN — Media witnesses to Nebraska’s first execution using lethal injection — and the state’s first execution in 21 years — said the process appeared to have gone smoothly and as planned.

The first of four lethal injection drugs was pumped into the left arm of double-murderer Carey Dean Moore at 10:24 a.m. Tuesday.

He was pronounced dead by a Lancaster County coroner 23 minutes later.

Moore was described by the four news media witnesses as “straight-faced” and “composed” as the death warrant was read to him just prior to the execution.

FULL story: https://www.omaha.com/news/courts/witnesses-say-it-appears-nebraska-s-first-execution-in-years/article_b690da09-b716-5eaa-9eda-fa1effcad32c.html

[regnaD kciN]

1. Imagine my relief...!

Wouldn't want a state-sponsored killing to get messy, would we?

[Ms. Toad]

3. As someone whose brother was 36 hours from being the last previous Nebraska execution -

Your sarcasm is painful.

I had to lie to my mother, 36 hours from Nebraska's intended electrocution of her son - when she asked if her son would be given a sedative to dull his awareness of the details of the electrocution. She needed to believe his execution would not be excruciatingly painful to him.

As an attorney, well versed in the details of execution, I knew that the legal requirement that he be cognizant of the reason he was being electrocuted would prevent any such kindness. I also know every detail of nearly every failed electrocution. I could not tell her he would be fully aware - or the many ways it could go wrong.

People on death row have loved ones. We are tortured for years as execution dates are set, then delayed, set, then delayed - until ultimately we have to choose between watching the state murder our loved ones (or stay away - leaving our loved ones to die alone). In our case, my father and I would have watched; my mother would not have - and in all likelihood would have vanished to a place (either physical or spiritual) from which she might not have returned. During those years, over and over, we are forced to choose between letting our loved one control the only thing left under their control - stopping all appeals - and intervening because althouth he will almost certainly change his mind, the change might come after the legal deadlines have expired.

So while my strong preference is that we stop this barbaric act of vengeance - if we must contine it, I want it non-"messy," for the sake of the individuals being executed - and their loved ones. And I also want every member of the jury and all judges involved (at the trial and appellate, and the federal and state level) to be required to actively participate in the execution (as one more barrier to state-sanctioned murder).

[nolabear]

4. Jesus. I'm sorry. It sounds like torture.

[Ms. Toad]

5. Less so once he was resentenced to life.

But it was an open wound for the two decades he was repeatedly given execution dates, so anytime anyone made a crude joke about execution, it was like twisting a knife in that open wound.

It is too easy to think of the "monsters," on death row as something other than human - and as totally disconnected from all other human beings. But - from the visits I made to my brother - he was far from the only death row inmate who had family members who loved him.

[redwitch]

6. I am so sorry.

I cannot imagine how awful.

When I was a little girl my dad worked for a daily newspaper which put out a monthly in house newsletter which I read from cover to cover. One month there was an essay written by dads colleague who had witnessed an execution by electrocution. I became anti death penalty at the age of 8 or 9 after reading it. The witness described in excruciating detail the state sanctioned murder. He was sickened. What a family member must feel is beyond me.

I am so, so sorry for what you have gone through with your brother and I am glad he was not executed.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Thank you.

One thing I did not mention in my first response is the impact on the executioners and prison workers.

After nearly 2 decades of daily contact with my brother, many of the guards had become friends, of sorts. It was clear in what was to have been our final visit how devastated they were at my brother's impending execution. We didn't get to meet the executioners - at least not in any way that made them identifiable. The torment many of them go through as a result of their role in carrying out this barbaric punishment in our names is unconscionable.

A "messy" execution would be so much harder on those who have had daily contact with the state's victim - and on those who actually carry it out.

[RockRaven]

2. Ample statistical evidence exists that death penalty has no deterrent effect upon relevant crimes

and escapees from from high-security prisons are so vanishingly rare as to make an inadequate-sequestration justification laughable...

so what is left?

Biblical justifications... should be irrelevant outside of a theocracy... they're not saying we ought to be a theocracy, are they?

Kantian arguments... rather on the periphery of modern mainstream ethical discussions from what I've read/heard.

Visceral revenge/vengeance... yeah, that seems about where the justification is at these days...

[joshcryer]

7. They used fentanyl. Press conference:

They used fentanyl so it's quite unsurprising that it went "well." Guy got a blast of heaven's delight before falling unconscious.

The problem has always been pharmaceuticals refusing to provide the drugs and states trying weird concoctions that they wouldn't know if they were effective or not.

Note: I am highly against the death penalty, because state sponsored murder is immoral: but watching the reporters explain how it went down, I am only saying that it's unsurprising that we can kill someone and make it go well.

Link to press conference, the reporter took very lengthy notes and explains how it went down, so somewhat graphic (in the sense that he's talking about the state mudering someone):