Man who fatally beat wife put to death in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (Reuters) – A Missouri man who beat his
wife to death and then argued that execution was too cruel a
punishment was put to death early Wednesday by lethal
injection.

Timothy Johnston, 44, was pronounced dead at 12:07 a.m.

His last words were: “I hope Nancy’s mom forgives me. I
hope everyone I’ve ever hurt forgives me. I’m ready to go to
heaven. I hope you can forgive yourselves.”

His last meal consisted of a quarter of a fried chicken,
french fries, catfish, coleslaw, apple pie and a soda.

Johnston was sentenced to death for the 1989 beating of his
wife, Nancy Johnston. Evidence showed he beat her head against
a curb, kicked her and stomped her with steel-tipped boots, and
hit her with a rifle butt and a chair.

Johnston filed several appeals of his execution, arguing
that death by lethal injection was unconstitutionally cruel
punishment. In appellate court arguments, lawyers for Johnston
argued that his executioners may not adequately sedate him,
leaving him to suffer “a painful and protracted death” from the
lethal drugs used to stop breathing and the heart.

The courts rejected the appeals, leaving Johnston to become
the fourth inmate put to death in Missouri this year and the
65th person executed in Missouri since the death penalty was
reinstated in 1976.

Several death row inmates around the United States have
argued that lethal injection violates the constitutional
protection against cruel and unusual punishment, and the issue
is winding its way through the courts.

Death penalty opponents around Missouri held vigils Tuesday
night to protest Johnston’s execution.