In America, a man was executed for a 1997 murder despite the parole board’s recommendation that his life be spared.
James Coddington died on Thursday morning after receiving a fatal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
The 50-year-old was convicted and condemned to death for using a hammer to kill 73-year-old Albert Hale 25 years ago.
Prosecutors claim Coddington, who was 24 at the time, grew upset when Mr Hale refused to give him money to buy cocaine.
Coddington apologised to Mr Hale’s family and claimed he was a changed man today at a clemency hearing this month before the state’s Pardon and Parole Board.
“I’m clean, I believe in God, and I’m not a terrible murderer,” Coddington told the board. “It’s alright if this ends today with my death sentence.”
Mitch Hale, Albert Hale’s son, encouraged the parole board not to recommend clemency and expressed relief this week that the execution will go through.
Emma Rolls, Coddington’s attorney, told the panel that Coddington was damaged by years of alcohol and drug addiction, which began when he was a newborn and his father put beer and whiskey in his baby bottles.
The panel decided 3-2 to recommend clemency, despite Hale’s family’s opposition.
However, Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt rejected the parole board’s proposal.
