• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Man who fatally beat wife put to death in Missouri

Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 03:26 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category