21 July 2023 , 08:20
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A man has been executed in Alabama for beating a woman to death in 2001 as the US state resumed lethal injections following a pause to review procedures.
James Barber, 64, was pronounced dead at 1.56am local time (7.56am BST) after receiving a lethal injection at a south Alabama prison.
But there was one item that was banned from the witness room. A federal court ruling Thursday prohibited an attorney for James Barber, Attorney Mara Klebaner, from bringing a plain wristwatch (not a smartwatch).
U.S. District Judge Emily Marks ruled that Mara could bring a notepad and a click-top pen but did not permit a wristwatch.
(AFP via Getty Images)The issue of the wristwatch allegedly goes back to concerns raised by Barber’s attorneys about the extended amount of time personnel may need to successfully establish the IV lines.
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That has been problematic in the state’s last three execution attempts, only one of which was successful. The state halted two lethal injections because of difficulties inserting IVs into the condemned men’s veins. Advocacy groups claimed a third execution, carried out after a delay because of IV problems, was botched, a claim the state has disputed.
Barber was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2001 killing of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps. Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman, confessed to killing Ms Epps with a claw hammer and fleeing with her purse. Jurors voted 11-1 to recommend a death sentence, which a judge imposed.
Barber’s lawyers unsuccessfully asked the courts to block the execution, saying the state has a pattern of failing “to carry out a lethal injection execution in a constitutional manner”. 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.
Barber’s attorneys unsuccessfully asked the courts to block the execution (Getty Images)Before he was put to death, Barber told his family he loved them and apologized to Epps' family.
“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.”
Barber said he wanted to tell the governor “and the people in this room that I forgive you for what you are about to do."
Barber spent his last 24 hours before his scheduled execution Thursday night. Before he was put to death, Barber told his family he loved them and apologized to Epps' family.
Barber refused breakfast Thursday and ate snacks. For his final meal, Barber requested loaded hash browns, western omelet, spicy sausage and white toast. On Wednesday, Barber had 10 visitors and six phone calls. On Thursday, he had 22 visitors and two phone calls.