Alabama to Restart Lethal Injections After Botched Executions
Alabama is gearing up to resume lethal injection executions this Thursday, ending a pause sparked by a series of botched killings last year. Convicted murderer James Barber, 54, is set to die at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore for the savage 2001 hammer attack that claimed the life of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps.
James Barber: Hammer Murderer Faces Death
Barber, a handyman, was convicted in 2003 for the horrific beating of Dorothy Epps during a robbery. His execution will be Alabama’s first lethal injection since last year’s failed attempts.
He shares the execution date with Jemaine Cannon, 51. Cannon is slated for lethal injection in Oklahoma for the 1995 murder of 20-year-old Sharonda Clark, a mother of two.
Alabama’s Execution Moratorium Lifted Amid Controversy
Governor Kay Ivey put executions on hold last year after a gruesome botch saw Joe James Jr.’s execution drag on for three excruciating hours due to problems setting the IV line. Two other execution attempts were stopped for the same reason.
After a thorough procedure review, Alabama lifted the moratorium in February. But critics and Barber’s lawyers remain wary, pointing to the state’s grim history of failed lethal injections.
Last-Minute Appeals and National Execution Spotlight
Barber’s legal team has rushed in last-minute appeals aiming to stop the execution amid fears of another botch. Both supporters and foes of the death penalty are closely watching Alabama’s high-stakes return to lethal injection.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, Jemaine Cannon faces lethal injection at 10:00 AM Central Time on Thursday at McAlester’s state penitentiary. This year, 13 people have already been executed across the US.
