A convicted murderer was killed by lethal injection today (Friday, July 21) in an Alabama prison after his execution was temporarily put on pause as lawmakers reviewed procedures.
James Barber, 64, was pronounced dead at 1.56am local time (7.56am BST) today after he beat a woman to death in 2001.
But before Barber was administered the deadly dose one item was banned from the room.
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A federal court ruling on Thursday (July 20) forbade Barber's attorney Mara Klebaner from bringing a plain wristwatch – not a smartwatch – to the execution, reports the Mirror.
Concerns over the watch first arose following Alabama's last three execution attempts, only one of which was successful, as prison staff struggled to establish IV lines.
Two previous executions were halted because of problems inserting the lethal IVs into the Death Row inmates' veins – attorneys for inmate Alan Miller said he was poked with needles by prison staff for more than an hour as they unsuccessfully attempted to connect him to the line, according to CBS.
At one point he was even left hanging vertically on a wheeled stretcher before the September execution was aborted.
State officials also called off the November execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith after they failed to connect the second of two required IV lines.
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Advocacy groups also said a third execution, which was ultimately successful following a delay because of problems with the IV, was botched – a claim the state has disputed.
While the wristwatch wasn't allowed, US District Judge Emily Marks ruled Klebaner could bring a notepad and a click-top pen.
Barber confessed to the killing of Dorothy Epps, 75, before he was convicted and sentenced to death.
The killer admitted he battered her with a claw hammer before taking off with her purse.
Jurors voted 11-1 to recommend the death penalty, which a judge imposed before the sentence was carried out this morning.
Barber’s lawyers attempted to have the execution blocked, claiming the state had a pattern of failing "to carry out a lethal injection execution in a constitutional manner."
However, the state asked the courts to let the execution proceed.
"Mrs Epps and her family have waited for justice for twenty-two years," the Alabama attorney general’s office wrote in a court filing.
Prior to his execution Barber told his family he loved them and apologised to his victim's relatives.
"I want to tell the Epps' family I love them. I'm sorry for what happened," Barber said.
"No words would fit how I feel."
He also addressed the governor "and the people in this room" telling them "I forgive you for what you are about to do."
On the Wednesday before he was put to death, Barber received six phone calls and met with 10 visitors, while on Thursday he had 22 visitors and two phone calls.
Yesterday he refused breakfast and only ate snacks until his final meal – loaded hash browns, western omelette, spicy sausage and white toast.
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