McAlester lawmaker not upset by convicts delayed death 05/01/2014 5:41 AM By JAMES BEATY Senior Editor McAlester News-Capital State Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester, said his thoughts turned to Clayton Lockett’s murder victim when he learned Lockett had died of a heart attack shortly after his formal execution was halted because of problems with the lethal drug injection process. Lockett was convicted of kidnapping, terrorizing and killing Stephanie Nieman, 19, in rural Kay County 15 years ago. Authorities said he shot Nieman twice, then ordered two companions to bury her alive as she pleaded for her life. “I wonder if she had a heart attack?” said Renegar. According to the state Attorney General’s Office, Nieman “was still alive and choking on dirt as they buried her.” McAlester’s other state representative, Democrat Donnie Condit, had a different reaction. He said it was “tragic” that the execution did not go as planned. He said he knows from a visit to the state prison and the death chamber shortly after being elected to office that procedures are in place should something go wrong during an execution. Read more woodwardnews.net
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 17:10:34 +0000