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Details on the botched Ohio execution, issue spotting, and seeking predictions

By Douglas A. Berman

This story from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer has more details on Ohio's botched effort to execute Romell Broom yesterday and some reactions to it: For more than two hours, the team attempted to insert two shunts into a vein of the compliant Broom, who tried several times to assist his executioners by shifting positions, rubbing his arm and pointing out possible usable veins. The delay will likely add to the debate about the death penalty in Ohio and what constitutes cruel and usual punishment. "The sentence is death, not torture plus death," said Kathleen Soltis, chairwoman of the Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "What does reprieve mean in this case? This is getting crazier than usual." At one point, Broom, 53, lay back on his bed, covered his face with his hands, and cried...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on September 16, 2009 (boomark / email).