45 h. ago Louisiana death row inmate challenges nitrogen gas as execution method

Jessie Hoffman Jr, who would become first person state killed this way, says his religious rights would be violatedA man scheduled to become the first person executed by nitrogen gas in Louisiana is challenging the method in court, arguing it violates his religious beliefs.A federal judge will decide whether executing Jessie Hoffman Jr by nitrogen hypoxia violates his constitutional right to practice his religion, which includes Buddhist breathing and meditation exercises that would be impeded by the gas during the capital punishment. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago Chilling last words of death row inmate first to be executed by firing squad in 15 years

Double murderer Brad Sigmon, 67, became the first US death row inmate in 15 years to be executed by firing squad when he was shot by three prison guards - his final words have now been revealed

Events

54 h. ago Final words of first US death row inmate to be executed by firing squad in 15 years

Brad Sigmon, 67, was put to death by firing squad at 6.05pm on Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina.

Sport

62 h. ago Death row inmate is executed by firing squad after choosing how he would die

Brad Sigmon, of South Carolina, was terrified of the electric chair and being "tortured by lethal injection" and so was given special permission to pick the manner of his execution

Events

63 h. ago South Carolina death row inmate executed by firing squad, first in US in 15 years

Brad Sigmon, 67, had a target placed in front of his heart and three employee volunteers shot him

Events

65 h. ago South Carolina conducts first US firing squad execution in 15 years: ‘Barbaric’

Brad Sigmon, 67, was shot dead by prison staff despite outcry over ‘cruel’ method and calls for clemencyThe US has conducted its first execution by firing squad in 15 years, with South Carolina prison officials shooting to death Brad Sigmon, 67, on Friday evening, despite widespread concerns about the safety and cruelty of this method.Sigmon was the oldest person to be executed in the state’s history and his death was part of a series of rapid killings the state has pursued in the last six months as it revives capital punishment. There had been growing calls for clemency, but minutes before Sigmon was killed, the state’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, announced he would not be intervening. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Who is Brad Sigmon? The South Carolina death row inmate set for first U.S. firing squad execution in 15 years

Death row inmate convicted of the double murder of David and Gladys Larke has chosen to die by firing squad over fears the electric chair would ‘burn and cook him alive’

Events

3 d. ago South Carolina moves ahead with ‘cruel’ firing squad execution despite outcry

Brad Sigmon, 67, will be first executed by gunfire in US in 15 years as supporters call for clemencyThe US will conduct its first execution by firing squad in 15 years on Friday in South Carolina, despite widespread concerns about the safety and cruelty of this method and growing calls for clemency.Brad Sigmon, 67, is scheduled to be shot to death by three South Carolina prison employees, part of a series of rapid executions the state has pursued in the last six months as it revives capital punishment. After a 13-year-pause in killings, due to limited supplies to carry out executions, the state now directs men on death row to choose their method of death – electric chair, lethal injection or firing squad. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago South Carolina is set for the first U.S. firing squad execution in 15 years

Death row inmate convicted of the double murder of David and Gladys Larke has chosen to die by firing squad over fears the electric chair would ‘burn and cook him alive’

Politics

7 d. ago Lethal injection, electrocution and now firing squads. A look at US execution methods

South Carolina is preparing this week to execute a man by firing squad, a capital punishment method that hasn’t been used in the U.S. in nearly 15 years

Politics

7 d. ago Who is Brad Sigmon? The South Carolina murderer set for first U.S. firing squad execution in 15 years

Death row inmate convicted of the double murder of David and Gladys Larke has chosen to die by firing squad over fears the electric chair would ‘burn and cook him alive’

Events

1 week ago He's had three 'last meals' on Oklahoma's death row. The Supreme Court has now tossed his conviction

A death row inmate in Oklahoma who has been scheduled for execution nine separate times and been fed three “last meals” has won a new trial after the U.S. Supreme Court tossed his murder conviction

Events

2 w. ago South Carolina man to be killed in US’s first firing squad execution in 15 years

Brad Sigmon, 67, chooses to be shot dead amid concerns that lethal injections have caused ‘excruciating’ painA South Carolina man on death row has chosen to be killed by firing squad, and if his execution goes forward next month, it would be the first time in 15 years that capital punishment in the US is carried out by gunfire.Brad Sigmon, 67, is scheduled to be shot to death on 7 March, part of a spate of rapid killings the state has pursued in the last six months as it revives executions after a 13-year pause. South Carolina now directs those on death row to choose how they will be killed – electric chair, lethal injection or shooting. If they decline to make a selection, the state electrocutes them. Continue reading...

Events