Florida executes death row inmate nearly 18 years after murder

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 19:03 · Archive

James Robertson, 63, was executed by lethal injection in Florida on Tuesday for the 2008 murder of his cellmate.

James Robertson, 63, was pronounced dead at 12.32pm on Tuesday after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He had pleaded guilty to the 2008 first-degree murder of fellow inmate Frank Hart and waived all post-conviction appeals. According to investigators, Robertson killed his cellmate because he wanted to be sentenced to death rather than spend the rest of his life in prison.

The execution was Florida's 17th this year. It came amid heightened scrutiny of capital punishment in the United States, following the botched execution attempt of Christa Pike in Tennessee on 30 September. Pike survived despite receiving two lethal doses of pentobarbital and was discharged from hospital, returning to prison ten days later.

Florida's lethal injection procedure involves administering a sedative, a paralytic drug and a drug that stops the heart. When asked how Florida would prevent a repeat of the Pike incident, Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Jordan Kirkland said: "Florida has a sound lethal injection process and protocol. We are very committed to carrying that out in a humane and dignified manner." He added that he could not comment on Tennessee's procedures. Kirkland stated at a news conference that "the execution took place without incident".

Robertson was originally scheduled to be one of two inmates executed on Tuesday. However, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, without giving an official reason, though he had temporarily stayed Thompson's execution the previous month for a psychiatric evaluation. The Mirror reports this was the first time DeSantis has withdrawn an active death warrant since taking office.

How it is being reported

• Death row inmate killed by lethal injection days after Christa Pike’s botched executionJames Robertson's execution came at a time of escalating attention on the death penalty in the U.S.Independent World · 13 Oct, 18:53
• Florida carries out execution after botched Tennessee attemptJames Robertson was the state’s 17th execution this year, amid scrutiny over Tennessee’s failed lethal injection of Christa Pike US plan to livestream execution elicits global condemnation Florida put to death a convicted murderer in the state’s first execution since September’s botched attempt involving Christa Pike in Tennessee, on Tuesday. Officials said James Robertson, 63, was pronounced dead after he received a three-shot series of lethal injections at a Florida state prison in Raiford. Continue reading...Guardian World · 13 Oct, 18:41
• Murderer who strangled his cellmate in bid to executed on death row is killed — nearly 18 years onJames Robertson, 63, was pronounced dead at 12.32pm on Tuesday after being given a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, years after the murderThe Mirror · 13 Oct, 18:27

In this story: James Robertson · Frank Hart · Christa Pike · Ron DeSantis · William Lee Thompson · Florida State Prison · Tennessee · Florida

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem