0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting from the start.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14AUTOMATED MESSAGE: This is a free call from...an inmate at...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16..Cummins Unit.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18This call is subject to recording and monitoring.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08There was so much blood.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14There was just so much blood all over the place.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25There's been a 25-year nightmare for the victims that have had to deal
0:01:25 > 0:01:29with this, and now it is time for that justice to be carried out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36- REPORTER:- We have seen widespread protests in Arkansas and beyond,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40as we inch even closer to the first scheduled lethal injection.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42That's great, protect the murderers, uh?
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Protect the killers and don't protect the people that they kill.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50I'm not answering any more questions.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53When does the state learn that this was going to expire at
0:01:53 > 0:01:54the end of April?
0:01:56 > 0:01:59You are going to kill them because the drugs are expiring?
0:02:01 > 0:02:02This is theatre.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Political theatre.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14There's nothing about having 10 days to plead
0:02:14 > 0:02:16for a man's life that's fair.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19It's pretty much like a slaughter line, and...
0:02:21 > 0:02:22..it's inhumane.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Now it's been 25 years since he's been on death row.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38So, let's get it over with.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It's justice for my son, is what it is.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Arkansas is planning to execute eight people in a ten-day period.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27The rationale for this is that one of the three drugs
0:03:27 > 0:03:33they are intending to use is going to expire on April 30th.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38And so, there's a rush to execute them before that time.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Er, the drug companies are loathe to have their, er,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46products used for executions.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50And so, the Governor does not know if and when they will ever be able
0:03:50 > 0:03:51to get more drugs.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55How long have you got until the first execution?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58The first execution is April 17th.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Er, the first of my three clients is set for April 20th.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- REPORTER:- Stacey Johnson was convicted of the April 1st,
0:04:06 > 0:04:091993 murder of Carol Heath of Dequeen.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Prosecutor, Brian Cheshire, says it's time for justice.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17It was a very horrific murder that was done in the presence of the
0:04:17 > 0:04:21victim's two minor children, that were hiding in a closet.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I don't see how anybody could have a heart,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26that could have done what this man did.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31Carol Heath was found dead with her throat cut in her Dequeen Duplex.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Authorities say her six-year-old daughter identified Johnson in
0:04:34 > 0:04:38a photo line-up. He was convicted by a jury trial twice.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40In both trials he was sentenced to death.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42There's no doubt in my mind this man is a very,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44very dangerous man and, er...
0:04:45 > 0:04:49..would be a danger for the same events occurring if he was allowed
0:04:49 > 0:04:51to be walking our streets.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Stacey Johnson's the only one of the eight
0:05:02 > 0:05:05who has a serious guilt/innocence issue.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09The issue in his case was this,
0:05:09 > 0:05:14there was a child in the home who was allegedly an eye-witness.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16The question is, was she?
0:05:35 > 0:05:36INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Good morning. We're here today in the matter of Stacey Johnson,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04who's represented by his attorney, Mr Jeff Rosenzweig...
0:06:05 > 0:06:08..in that Johnson has applied for clemency.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13He's asking that his sentence be reduced from a death sentence to
0:06:13 > 0:06:15life imprisonment without parole.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- Of that, Mr Rosenzweig, you may... - Thank you.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- ..do your presentation.- Can I thank the members of the Parole Board?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Er, the issue in Stacey Johnson's case
0:06:25 > 0:06:28is that there was a small child,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30who was the leading witness against him.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35One mental health professional felt that the child was not confident at
0:06:35 > 0:06:36the time to testify.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41That she was essentially being browbeaten by her family into
0:06:41 > 0:06:42identifying Stacey Johnson,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44that there's some question as to whether
0:06:44 > 0:06:46she had seen anything at all.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Er, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51This was the alleged eye-witness.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56As a society, we should not execute people, er,
0:06:56 > 0:07:02unless we are absolutely sure that they got a fair trial,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04and that there is no doubt.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08For close to 25 years,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11I've been in the Arkansas Department of Correction for a crime
0:07:11 > 0:07:15that I didn't do. I didn't kill Carol Heath at all.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17But I've been here for it.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21Now, I'm not sitting here asking you to free me or do anything else,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26I'm just simply asking for the opportunity and the chance to get
0:07:26 > 0:07:28my case back in court, so I can be heard.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30That's all I'm asking for, cos I mean,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35I'm a point right now where I'm about to lose my life for a crime in
0:07:35 > 0:07:38which I didn't commit.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Thank you.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Judy Robinson-Johnson, Stacey's wife.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52I am asking and pleading with this board to let my husband be able to
0:07:52 > 0:07:58prove his innocence, and be one of the many who have been exonerated,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and not one of the many who were later found to be innocent after
0:08:01 > 0:08:03they were executed.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Thank you.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09They claim that he slit her throat.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Stacey did not do this crime.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20If I knew for sure that he did do this...
0:08:21 > 0:08:22..I wouldn't be here today.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I mean I was...I wouldn't be defending him
0:08:24 > 0:08:26the way I'm defending him.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Breaking news, as the State of Arkansas and the entire country wait
0:08:32 > 0:08:35to see if Arkansas will carry out a lethal injection
0:08:35 > 0:08:36for the first time in 12 years.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41We have seen widespread protests in Arkansas and beyond over
0:08:41 > 0:08:44the push to execute as many as eight inmates as we inch even closer...
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Is this the right chair here?
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Yeah.- Is this how you want me to look?
0:08:57 > 0:08:58- Closer.- OK.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Any time a Governor has to set the execution dates,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07it's one most sombre,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10responsibilities a Governor has.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Er, it's not something you take lightly.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17But you have to reflect upon how these cases began.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Each of these cases began with horrendous facts of, er,
0:09:22 > 0:09:27individuals being murdered, and not just, er, in an ordinary fashion,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30but in a particular heinous fashion,
0:09:30 > 0:09:35that carries with it the aggravating circumstances that justify
0:09:35 > 0:09:37the death penalty in the eyes of the jury.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45My name is Veronda Brassfield,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47I'm the executive director
0:09:47 > 0:09:49of the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty -
0:09:49 > 0:09:50and again, I'd like
0:09:50 > 0:09:54to thank all of you for coming out today and showing your support
0:09:54 > 0:09:59for the cause to abolish the death penalty and to stop executions now.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02We are set to make history around the world for something that's
0:10:02 > 0:10:09atrocious, for an assembly line of executions and we need to call on
0:10:09 > 0:10:12the Governor to ask him to have a change of heart.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17A lot of... Is this on?
0:10:21 > 0:10:25I think it is extremely likely that these executions,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30if they go forward are going to go horribly wrong,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and are not going to end up the way the Governor
0:10:33 > 0:10:34is expecting them to go.
0:10:34 > 0:10:40The rush to use this drug is, you know, bad for the dignity that
0:10:40 > 0:10:42they're trying to do eight in ten days,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44but it's also a terrible idea because it's a terrible drug.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47A lot of the midazolam executions have gone wrong,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51and the problem is midazolam is not an anaesthetic drug.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56In a surgical setting, it's used as a pre-anaesthetic, it's a sedative.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59And so, it cannot induce general anaesthesia
0:10:59 > 0:11:01which is how they're planning
0:11:01 > 0:11:04to use it or how they think it's going to work.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09But the second drug that's used paralyses all the voluntary muscles
0:11:09 > 0:11:12in your body, including the muscles necessary to breathe
0:11:12 > 0:11:17and so what happens is that the person, erm, feels like they're
0:11:17 > 0:11:20suffocating, and its called air hunger.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22And that's where you've seen these gasping,
0:11:22 > 0:11:27coughing, horrible deaths like Joseph Wood in Arizona
0:11:27 > 0:11:29where it took two hours
0:11:29 > 0:11:33for him to die a torturous, horrible death.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36So, we shouldn't be in a hurry to use it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Thank you.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53It's pretty much like, well, a slaughter line...
0:11:54 > 0:11:58..isn't it? There's no dignity at all and it's...
0:11:59 > 0:12:01..it's just inhumane...
0:12:02 > 0:12:04..the way they want to do that.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14It's OK, it's OK, it's OK.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Well, in Arkansas, I guess the majority of the people
0:12:35 > 0:12:37are pro the death penalty.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40In my opinion, it's justice.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49I think that when a man or woman kills another person,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and they are found guilty and the death penalty is given to them,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I think they should be put to death.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58They did it in the Bible, I mean, you know,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00in the Bible they stoned them,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02they didn't have all this fancy stuff we've got.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04They stoned them to death.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07It's an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, yes.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Yes, sir.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15You know, I'm about the most gentle person you could meet.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18You know, I don't even like killing flies.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20But this is, this is something totally different.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32The state promised that they'd put him to death 25 years ago.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36So, let's just do it and let's get it over with.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04My mom was very, very nice and, er...
0:14:05 > 0:14:09..kind. She was just very caring and loving.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13That's the hardest part I have,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16is trying to describe her because it's really, it's hard to do.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Why do you find it difficult to describe her?
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Because she was just, like, perfect in my eyes.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36And, erm, she was just perfect.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43This is my mom and my dad, and that's me
0:14:43 > 0:14:46and my older brother and sister.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52Then this one right here, this is my mom with her three daughters.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57This one was taken by a famous photographer from Time magazine and
0:14:57 > 0:15:00you can see, you know, she's always dressed real proper.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05You know, she had a full life.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11This whole book is on her Near East travels, here's Cairo.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13She went with Dr Frank C Lobar.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19He's a famous missionary and she travelled around with him and taught
0:15:19 > 0:15:21kids how to speak English, by her drawings.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28She graduated with a BA in fine arts.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29She was an artist.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35This one is the one that she did of me.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38You know, she had to get the sunlight and all that.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43And I sat there and posed while she painted it.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45I think it's a beautiful painting.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It means a lot to my mom and that's what matters.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57And this is the last painting...
0:15:58 > 0:15:59..that she did.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Had you seen your mum that day?
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The day before, I'd seen her the day before.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15We had a really nice lunch and then I left and she always,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17every time when you'd leave she'd stand outside, you know,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18and wave and...
0:16:20 > 0:16:21..you know.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24So, I saw her in my rear-view mirror as I'm driving off.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35My step-dad had been out of town, so she was home alone that evening,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40and then the next morning she went into town to get her flu shot,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43meanwhile, this guy's across the street.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47He apparently was doing drugs since the night before.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51He had already broken into the neighbour's house,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54and there was an illegal gun that those neighbours had.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00He saw my mom through the window drive up and pull into the garage,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and she didn't shut the garage door.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11So, he goes over there with this gun and just walked in and, erm,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15took her around the house and had her gather valuables.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21And then he took her down into the basement into a back room
0:17:21 > 0:17:23and executed her.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32He just shot her in the back of the head for no reason.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35It was just horrible.
0:17:37 > 0:17:43He's the one that saw my mom last and that to me is so upsetting that
0:17:43 > 0:17:46that's the last person that she saw.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47That's why I want him...
0:17:50 > 0:17:53..to be put to death and just to get this over with.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33What will Don Davis' death achieve?
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Probably nothing.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40You know, I mean it's not going to prevent other people from killing,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42that's not how I look at it.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46It's truly to give the family, the people that loved her...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50..peace. That's what it is for me.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54- And you think you will get that? - Oh, yeah.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22My personal opinion about the death penalty, I think it's horrible.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24I think it's totally misguided.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Oh, we're definitely heading in the wrong direction if we're doing
0:19:31 > 0:19:33eight in ten days, certainly.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40But, that's apparently the way we as a society have decided to go.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It's what amounts to a killing spree.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48A killing spree apparently intended
0:19:48 > 0:19:51to convince people that killing people is wrong.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54What do you think your chances are
0:19:54 > 0:19:56of being able to stop these executions?
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Well, we have several things pending in court.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01The odds are against us.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04I think that it's going to do down to the wire,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07at least with regard to the first executions.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10Here in Federal Court,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14lawyers will clash over the effectiveness of the drugs,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16the state plans to use in the lethal injection.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Much of the focus today on midazolam,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22it's a sedative and the first in the three-drug protocol.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Lawyers disagree on whether it's strong enough
0:20:25 > 0:20:27to put the inmates into a deep sleep.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Inmate lawyers argue the second and third drugs would cause
0:20:31 > 0:20:32excruciating pain.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36We're going to be presenting evidence
0:20:36 > 0:20:38from various medical personnel.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41The state's going to respond with experts of its own,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43and then Judge Baker will make a decision,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46and, well, obviously he will have to make it fairly quickly.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50It's a stressful situation because it's life or death.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53It's a race against the clock for all parties involved to schedule
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Arkansas' first execution in 12 years.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The inmates are hoping they can delay the process just long enough
0:21:00 > 0:21:03for that first drug to expire on April 30th.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06The state has called this hearing unnecessary and frivolous.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10They want Judge Baker to make a decision so that they can get on
0:21:10 > 0:21:13with those scheduled executions set for Monday.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17These law suits being filed are to delay the executions,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19the lawful executions of these individuals
0:21:19 > 0:21:22who have been convicted by juries of heinous crimes.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26If we were to win, it would be a finding
0:21:26 > 0:21:28that they cannot use midazolam.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32If you were to lose, I mean, what would that mean?
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Well, it would show how little we have progressed
0:21:35 > 0:21:39in terms of being a civilised society.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00As you can see, Stacey...
0:22:02 > 0:22:04..is a natural born artist.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06This was close around to the first execution dates,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10cos the first execution was around 2010.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13When I look at those,
0:22:13 > 0:22:18those that are sort of during a darker time frame in his life.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Erm...
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Everything was pretty much despair for him during that time.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Pretty much what this picture right here that he drew is him counting
0:22:31 > 0:22:37down his days of him being on death row awaiting his execution,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39and as he's sitting in his cell,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42he's just contemplating everything that he's been through in his life,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46you know, from being a former gangbanger,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49being out there on the street as a young kid.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54You know, he left home at an early age and he turned to the streets and
0:22:54 > 0:22:58joined the Crips. For him, the Crips were his family,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01you know, that's where he felt love, that's where he felt protection,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03as a lot of young black males do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07So, you know, going from that and just throughout the things
0:23:07 > 0:23:11that he's been through in his life, to now meeting my mother and I,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15you know, a lot has changed for him, in the way he sees things now.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20When it finally dawned on him that us as a family unit, together,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22that's when
0:23:22 > 0:23:26the paintings and the drawings and everything changed from these dark
0:23:26 > 0:23:28looking items, as I say,
0:23:28 > 0:23:33pretty much basically to Tweety Bird and squirrels and teddy bears and
0:23:33 > 0:23:38everything. This is another item he just recently did for me.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41It says, "'Thinking of you Marie", but my middle name is Marie,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43so he always calls me Marie.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50I met Stacey as a correctional officer.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I started work at Varner Unit,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Supermax, in June of 2003.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02And the very first night he was just standing in the cell doorway.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08There was a connection that I had, that I had with him when I actually
0:24:08 > 0:24:11looked in his eyes. It was almost like you can...
0:24:13 > 0:24:17..see and feel the actual sadness that was there.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21It's kind of hard to explain.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Over time, pretty much, we got closer and closer,
0:24:26 > 0:24:34fell in love, and July of last year, 2016, we were officially married.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37That is Stacey and me.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42And it was in the lobby area of the visitation area.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44And that's the three of us.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46He was pretty huge, he's large.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52His hand can cover my entire face, you know, he's a large man.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54He's pretty much been the love of my life,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58you know, even though we don't have a normal marriage relationship that
0:24:58 > 0:25:02everybody else has. But, you know, love is love.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I wouldn't change a thing, again.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09And then,
0:25:09 > 0:25:10I'm mentally...
0:25:11 > 0:25:14..preparing myself that, hey, we might lose him.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08The eighth amendment to the Constitution says that cruel and
0:26:08 > 0:26:11unusual punishment, er, shall not be inflicted.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14So, while a number of individuals may think,
0:26:14 > 0:26:19"So what if these guys suffer or experience pain,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21"they did something horrible,"
0:26:21 > 0:26:26the Constitution is there to put a check on that.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31What the litigation of Arkansas is about is
0:26:31 > 0:26:33whether the lethal injection
0:26:33 > 0:26:38protocol violates those Constitutional protections.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41It's a battle of the expert witnesses again
0:26:41 > 0:26:43here in Federal Court
0:26:43 > 0:26:46as lawyer's clash over the effectiveness of midazolam.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51Now, lawyers representing the State argue that the drug's FDA Label says
0:26:51 > 0:26:55it is approved specifically for the induction of anaesthesia.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58The Department of Correction points out that the US Supreme Court in
0:26:58 > 0:27:03their 2015 ruling approved the use of midazolam for lethal injections.
0:27:05 > 0:27:12I've been called as a witness to testify in court to talk about what
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I saw when Joe Wood was executed by the State of Arizona
0:27:16 > 0:27:22in 2014. The drug combination was hydromorphone and midazolam.
0:27:29 > 0:27:35We saw Joe Wood strapped to the gurney with the IV lines sticking
0:27:35 > 0:27:37out of his arms.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43His eyes began to close, the colour started to leave his face.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49It appeared to me that he had stopped breathing.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55A minute or two later, it appeared like he yawned.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58His head lurched back,
0:27:58 > 0:28:03he bucked up against the restraining straps that were holding him to the
0:28:03 > 0:28:07table, and then he started to gasp and gulp,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09and struggle to breathe.
0:28:11 > 0:28:17One reporter counted 640 gulps and gasps,
0:28:17 > 0:28:24and that lasted for an hour and 57 minutes before Joe Wood
0:28:24 > 0:28:26finally died.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36I can't believe that in the United States we do this to prisoners.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39It's unconscionable.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50ADC Director Wendy Kelley testified tonight, saying they have been
0:28:50 > 0:28:53practising the executions for the last week or so.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57They're fully prepared for the executions to begin on Monday
0:28:57 > 0:28:58as long as the court allows.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Were you guys ultimately pleased with what happened today?
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Well, er, the judge hasn't ruled
0:29:04 > 0:29:07but we felt we presented everything that needed to be presented.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10We'll just have to wait and see what the judge rules.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Do you ultimately feel that she's going to halt these executions?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Er, I'm not going to predict what the judge does.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16I know she was paying close attention
0:29:16 > 0:29:18and I hope she sees it our way.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Obviously, this is a national and international story,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25what is the message you believe that the scheduling of these executions
0:29:25 > 0:29:28sends potentially about this state?
0:29:28 > 0:29:32Er, we believe that this is just out of line with
0:29:32 > 0:29:36any sort of standard that should be applied in criminal practice.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38And that by doing this, erm,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42it puts Arkansas far outside the bounds of what society accepts.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44OK, excellent. Thank you.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46- Oh, that's Wendy Kelley there. - Yeah, there we go.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Great, erm, we're going to talk to you in one second.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- Let me ask you this.- I'm not answering any more questions.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56When did the state learn that this was going to expire
0:29:56 > 0:29:57at the end of April?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Your department is about to execute these people in a short period of
0:30:02 > 0:30:05time. Don't you think that the people of Arkansas should have an
0:30:05 > 0:30:07answer to these questions?
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Director, it's been more than a month
0:30:10 > 0:30:12that we've been trying to get answers from the state,
0:30:12 > 0:30:14and your department's about to execute these men.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Don't you think you should answer some of these questions?
0:30:27 > 0:30:31Well, this morning a preliminary injunction was granted
0:30:31 > 0:30:34in Federal Court to block the state's use of midazolam.
0:30:34 > 0:30:39Attorney General, Leslie Rutledge, filing an appeal within hours of
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Baker's ruling being handed down.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45Judge Baker's ruling was out of line with precedent of the Eighth Circuit
0:30:45 > 0:30:47as well as the US Supreme Court.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51The AG's office working overtime to make sure executions
0:30:51 > 0:30:53go as planned on Monday.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55The attorneys and the assistants,
0:30:55 > 0:30:56and everyone here at the office,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59are 100% committed to the people of Arkansas,
0:30:59 > 0:31:03and committed to seeing the rule of law upheld and justice carried out.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19The other inmate who is scheduled to be executed is Bruce Ward.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21We want to give you a little bit of background on him.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26He is a 60-year-old man who has been on death row now for 27 years.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29He's been described as having severe mental disabilities.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Ward has been on death row for strangling Rebecca Doss.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34This happened inside a convenience store in Little Rock.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38She was an 18-year-old who had just graduated from High School.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Rebecca Doss' mother has been waiting nearly three decades
0:31:41 > 0:31:44to see her daughter's killer be put to death.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46What about their victims?
0:31:46 > 0:31:50My daughter, you know, er, she didn't want to go that way,
0:31:50 > 0:31:51she hurt too.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53He put her through a lot.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57I don't even try to imagine that.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07We received a call about 2.40 in the morning,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09a homicide out on Rodney Parham.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Now right here at Advanced Auto is where
0:32:14 > 0:32:16the Jackpot Service Station was,
0:32:16 > 0:32:20and that's where the victim, Rebecca Doss, was working,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22and she was alone in that store.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31According to her parents and friends, Rebecca Doss was very sweet
0:32:31 > 0:32:33and loving and going to church,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36and she did not come from a wealthy family.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40She just took a night job trying to make some money, and, erm,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42it's a shame something like this had to happen to her.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52The video footage showed Mr Ward walking into the store...
0:32:53 > 0:32:56..and he was asking Miss Doss for a key
0:32:56 > 0:33:01to the men's bathroom, and you could see Miss Doss handing him the key,
0:33:01 > 0:33:04and Mr Ward exited the building,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07and you could tell that he went down the side of the building towards
0:33:07 > 0:33:08the men's bathroom.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11A few minutes later it showed
0:33:11 > 0:33:17Mr Ward coming back into the store with this key in his hand, telling
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Miss Doss that the key didn't work,
0:33:19 > 0:33:21and he needed some assistance in opening up the door.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27And that's where Mr Ward forced Miss Doss into the men's bathroom.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36This happened about 2.40am in the morning,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38and there's not a whole lot of traffic,
0:33:38 > 0:33:40and there's not a whole lot of people out and about.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44But the officer was just patrolling in his assigned district and when he
0:33:44 > 0:33:46drove by here, he looked inside,
0:33:46 > 0:33:51and he could not see the, er, store clerk at the desk.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54He'd been in here numerous times and had talked to her,
0:33:54 > 0:33:55and he just did not notice her.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00So, he made a U-turn and he came back and parked and he walked in,
0:34:00 > 0:34:02he didn't see her, so he thought,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04"Well, maybe she went to the rest room area,"
0:34:04 > 0:34:07and as he is approaching the restrooms Mr Ward
0:34:07 > 0:34:10was coming out of the men's bathroom.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16The other officer started searching the bathrooms,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19and that's where they found Miss Doss dead.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31It appeared in the bathroom that he strangled her with his hands,
0:34:31 > 0:34:33and she was partially dis-clothed.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36If it wasn't for the officer driving up at that time...
0:34:37 > 0:34:40..I would, er, base my...
0:34:41 > 0:34:44..facts on the fact that he was probably going to
0:34:44 > 0:34:47commit a rape or sexual assault on her, after her death.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55Bruce never admitted to his crime, he refused to give us a statement.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58He never once said how it happened or why he did it, or if he did it.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01Bruce just...
0:35:03 > 0:35:04..didn't say a word to us at all.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42My belief is that two wrongs don't make a right.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45However, I do believe that a person should be punished for what they've
0:35:45 > 0:35:48done, but not punished to death.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54I think they stay on death row way too long.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Some people think, "Well, they deserve that,"
0:35:56 > 0:35:58but I think that's inhumane.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02It's gotta be what I call hell on him to know that
0:36:02 > 0:36:03any time he could die.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10It's been years and I haven't heard nothing, now all of a sudden,
0:36:10 > 0:36:11they're going to do eight of them.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15It's like they're killing 'em because they can't use that no more,
0:36:15 > 0:36:18not because of their crime, and that don't seem right.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44I'm planning on...
0:36:45 > 0:36:50..driving down to the prison...
0:36:52 > 0:36:53..to witness the execution.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58But we don't know at this point if it's going to go through.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02There's been a couple of times that I've driven down there...
0:37:03 > 0:37:06..and they called it off.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10If this time its cancelled, I don't know if I can go through it again.
0:37:13 > 0:37:19- Why is that? - It's emotionally draining, erm,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22I know it's not good for me to be going through this.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24It's not...it's not healthy.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29I think this time I'm really frustrated with the state.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33They clumped them all together, so now it's made it a big deal,
0:37:33 > 0:37:36so people are really up in arms, you know, they're thinking, "Oh, my God,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40"Arkansas' crazy. They're putting all these people to death."
0:37:40 > 0:37:44You know, look at my one story, each one is different.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49You know, I wish they would have just done this one separate,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53you know, six months ago or something
0:37:53 > 0:37:56cos then maybe it wouldn't have been such a big deal.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Now it's been 27 years since he murdered my mom...
0:38:03 > 0:38:07..and 25 years since he's been on death row...
0:38:08 > 0:38:12..so, you know, let's get it over with.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20I want to see for sure myself that he's dead.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25I need to know that he definitely, he's gone,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27and I won't have to deal with this again,
0:38:27 > 0:38:31you know, I know people could tell me that,
0:38:31 > 0:38:32but I need to see it for myself.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36This is the house right here.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51You know, that was my mom's house, she built it...
0:38:52 > 0:38:55..and she loved this place. I mean, I see my mom all over it.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Behind the garage up there,
0:38:58 > 0:39:02that's where she did her art work and she had a dark room,
0:39:02 > 0:39:04so, yeah, it was a nice house.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07It kind of... It's really nice to be back here.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10THUNDER RUMBLES
0:39:19 > 0:39:20I love this weather.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31It's getting close.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Just looking around here at the Cummins Unit parking lot where we
0:40:27 > 0:40:30are, we've got media from all over the world here, Canada, London,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33the national networks, of course the local stations are here as well.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37The changes constantly happen but we here are in a holding pattern.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Inside the Cummins Unit however, a different scenario unfolding.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45Prison guards and officials are acting as if those two executions
0:40:45 > 0:40:49will in fact take place despite all the legal changes.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53But we still have plenty of time, because the death warrant expires at
0:40:53 > 0:40:54the stroke of midnight.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04"This is Jade F from Arkansas Department of Corrections,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08"we are still planning for everyone to be at central office today
0:41:08 > 0:41:10"at five o'clock.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13"I will call you if something changes."
0:41:13 > 0:41:19- So.- You know, I saw on the news last night that he was moved to, er,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22the execution unit.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25So, you know, the state is obviously moving forward,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27but at the same time it may or may not happen.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30She's been through it twice and it didn't happen.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32So, we've just got to think, "Well, this is a road trip,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35"you know, we're going to Little Rock and we're going to go shopping,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38"we're going to go out to dinner."
0:41:38 > 0:41:39We could be hearing at any time,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42get the phone call that it's not going to take place.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46So, we've got to have the mind-set that we're just taking a
0:41:46 > 0:41:49road trip, you know, we're going out of town and that just happens to be
0:41:49 > 0:41:52the business that we're taking care of while we're there.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58The execution was supposed to be at seven o'clock...
0:42:02 > 0:42:04..and, er, we hope it goes through.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17This is a really stressful time for people that are opposed to the death
0:42:17 > 0:42:20penalty, that's why we're at the Governor's Mansion to call on our
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Governor to ask him to call this whole plan off because this is
0:42:23 > 0:42:25shedding a horrible light on our state,
0:42:25 > 0:42:29and I think this is going to have some horrible ramifications
0:42:29 > 0:42:31for years to come.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Yeah, law and order, it's called law and order.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36You've gotta follow the law, it's amazing.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39When we follow the laws, want to cry about the laws.
0:42:44 > 0:42:45Follow the law.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50What are you out here saying to these people that are here?
0:42:50 > 0:42:53I'm saying we need to follow the... what I'm... Now, these people,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56I don't know. They need to get a job for one, do something, man.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Where were they when they killed all those people?
0:42:58 > 0:43:01When they raped and murdered that guy's wife, where were you all then?
0:43:01 > 0:43:03That's what I'm saying, where were you?
0:43:03 > 0:43:05And so, these executions to you, these would-be justice for...?
0:43:05 > 0:43:07There's needs to be, sure.
0:43:08 > 0:43:09Not me, what, hold up.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11- It isn't me.- It's 90...- 8 times 12,
0:43:11 > 0:43:13anybody know what 8 times 12 is, it's 96.
0:43:13 > 0:43:1696 jurors said that those people need to be put to death.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Those trials were 20, some of those over 20 years ago.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22- I'm sorry, what's your name, sir? - I'm not going to tell you my name.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- Why not? - Cos I don't want you to know it.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26You want to speak out but you want to be anonymous?
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Well, it doesn't matter about my name.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30It's not about me or my name, man.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32It's about the state of Arkansas.
0:43:32 > 0:43:33The Governor needs to know
0:43:33 > 0:43:35that the whole state of Arkansas is behind him.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38They're doing the right thing, why are we protesting?
0:43:38 > 0:43:40They're following the law. They're trying to do
0:43:40 > 0:43:42what's supposed to have been done. Keep killers alive,
0:43:42 > 0:43:45protect the killers and don't protect the people that they killed.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47That's a great idea, that's a great philosophy.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49Protect the killers.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51Let's take a... Now, let's go and protect those murderers, man,
0:43:51 > 0:43:54they've changed their lives or something, man.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56Protect the murderers, that's great.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58Protect the murderers, huh?
0:43:58 > 0:44:01We'll protect the murderers, that's a great idea, man.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03These people do not represent the state of Arkansas.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07That man, the people that voted for him, and all that why he won,
0:44:07 > 0:44:09that's what the majority represent.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11The majority of the state want it, period.
0:44:12 > 0:44:13Asa, we love you.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19I'm sorry. It's fair enough.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38Well, I'm just...there's clearly a problem with it.
0:44:45 > 0:44:46That'll be good. Fair enough.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48Fair enough.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50- I'm a good person, man. - That's why...
0:44:50 > 0:44:58- Do you know what I mean? - That's why I just came to you.
0:45:00 > 0:45:06Anyway, you all have a good night.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18"Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed an emergency motion
0:45:18 > 0:45:22"with the Arkansas Supreme Court to reverse the blanket
0:45:22 > 0:45:25"stay on executions ordered by Judge Baker,
0:45:25 > 0:45:29"arguing the case should have been dismissed because
0:45:29 > 0:45:31"the challenge over the drug
0:45:31 > 0:45:33"has already been addressed in previous courts."
0:45:33 > 0:45:36I'm really thankful for the people that are fighting on behalf of us.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38You know.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43It's kind of comforting to know that there's people out there that care.
0:45:43 > 0:45:49So, the argument is this drug is unsuitable as an execution drug,
0:45:49 > 0:45:53saying it is not a pain killer and can subject them
0:45:53 > 0:45:55to a cruel and unusual punishment
0:45:55 > 0:45:58and violation of the US Constitution.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00Oh, my gosh.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03I mean... Oh.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07Would they rather have the electric chair?
0:46:09 > 0:46:11You know, I mean, come on.
0:46:24 > 0:46:29We are steps away from Arkansas' death chamber where Don Davis made
0:46:29 > 0:46:32the move here on Friday night for his scheduled execution.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34Bruce Ward has so far not been moved,
0:46:34 > 0:46:36according to prison officials.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39Now, Saturday morning of Easter Weekend, a federal judge,
0:46:39 > 0:46:42Christine Baker, issued a stay of execution
0:46:42 > 0:46:44based on the drug midazolam.
0:46:44 > 0:46:49However, around 5.15 tonight an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
0:46:49 > 0:46:52out of St Louis reversed her decision,
0:46:52 > 0:46:56thus allowing these scheduled executions to go through.
0:46:56 > 0:46:57The state got that win as you mentioned,
0:46:57 > 0:46:59when the Eighth Circuit overturned
0:46:59 > 0:47:02the Federal Judge here in Little Rock and said that yes, indeed,
0:47:02 > 0:47:06midazolam is constitutional and the protocol that's used for lethal
0:47:06 > 0:47:08injections in this state is OK.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13Of course, a lot of the focus has been on the drugs being used.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15Will they cause cruel and unusual punishment?
0:47:15 > 0:47:17That awaits to be seen.
0:47:19 > 0:47:23The potential effect of midazolam is that it's not going to have an
0:47:23 > 0:47:26effect. It's not going to render them unconscious
0:47:26 > 0:47:28and then the other drugs
0:47:28 > 0:47:31will do their work while the person is fully conscious.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35It's going to have a sensation of burning,
0:47:35 > 0:47:37of being on fire throughout the body.
0:47:37 > 0:47:42The person is also going to be paralysed and conscious
0:47:42 > 0:47:43but unable to breathe.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48I had a medical procedure and, er,
0:47:48 > 0:47:52I was given it and I woke up a couple of minutes later fully awake.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59You know, I don't that much about this drug,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02but I do know that making another stay,
0:48:02 > 0:48:04a guy has suffered, like, for an hour.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09I've been suffering for 25 years.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Do you think Don Davis deserves to suffer?
0:48:14 > 0:48:15Oh, yeah.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19Yeah, because my mom sure did.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25So, yeah, he just totally deserves it and the longer the better,
0:48:25 > 0:48:27you know.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32If it lasts for 30 minutes or an hour or whatever.
0:48:32 > 0:48:33I mean...
0:48:35 > 0:48:37..I don't care.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40I know that sounds cold-hearted
0:48:40 > 0:48:43but I really just really truly don't care.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23It's disappointing for the judicial system
0:49:23 > 0:49:25and the perception that people
0:49:25 > 0:49:27have of it.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29And the fact that these sentences were handed down decades ago
0:49:29 > 0:49:32and we're still, we're still going through this
0:49:32 > 0:49:33at the last minute.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36It seems to be a lot of things that are being thrown at the wall to see
0:49:36 > 0:49:39what sticks, hopping on different claims.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41You know, er, I think that's the frustrating part.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Our staff has been trained,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52and our staff is ready to carry out these sentences
0:49:52 > 0:49:55that have been handed down by a jury.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Good evening, and thank you for joining us tonight at 10 o'clock
0:50:01 > 0:50:04- everyone. I'm Bob Clausen.- The state was hopeful earlier in the day
0:50:04 > 0:50:06that both men and their sentences
0:50:06 > 0:50:07would be carried out.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11But Bruce Ward, we have learnt late tonight, will not be executed.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15He was the first inmate set to die, at seven o'clock.
0:50:23 > 0:50:24Now for Don Davis.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28The only hurdle standing in the way is the Supreme Court of the United
0:50:28 > 0:50:32States. If in fact that ruling does come down,
0:50:32 > 0:50:35we have a two-hour window to execute Don Davis.
0:50:41 > 0:50:45In expectation of the Supreme Court's potential decision,
0:50:45 > 0:50:50we are moving forward with the selection of our media witnesses.
0:50:50 > 0:50:55If there is not a consensus from the, er, eligible pool,
0:50:55 > 0:50:57I will select by random draw.
0:51:02 > 0:51:04Bobby, we'll try your last name.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08All right.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11Those individuals who were selected as media witnesses,
0:51:11 > 0:51:13we will have an escort, er,
0:51:13 > 0:51:16to take you to the witness centre.
0:51:16 > 0:51:18I will ask that you sign an acknowledgement
0:51:18 > 0:51:23that you agree to not record the execution in any way.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25Any questions?
0:51:32 > 0:51:33Witnesses will be taken, er,
0:51:33 > 0:51:37to a room adjacent to the execution chamber where they will watch
0:51:37 > 0:51:40the execution take place, when it takes place.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Again, it can happen any time between now and midnight.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59Solomon Graves, the spokesperson
0:51:59 > 0:52:00for the Arkansas Department of Correction
0:52:00 > 0:52:05is sitting by the phone, which is where he remains stationed until
0:52:05 > 0:52:07he gets that phone call which means
0:52:07 > 0:52:10that the execution has been completed.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50My mom would definitely be against the death penalty.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53Yeah, she would not want him put to death.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59That just shows what a wonderful angel she was, you know.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04But I'm still here on earth.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08If this is what needs to happen for me to have peace,
0:53:08 > 0:53:10you know, bring it on.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46We have just been made aware that the, er,
0:53:46 > 0:53:51United States Supreme Court has maintained the stay of execution
0:53:51 > 0:53:53for Don William Davis.
0:53:53 > 0:53:59Er, the Governor's Office will be making a statement, er,
0:53:59 > 0:54:04as to their perspective of tonight's decision and any next steps.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07Thank you, guys, for your patience tonight.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09It's been a really long evening.
0:54:09 > 0:54:14I'll tell you right now that tonight the families of the victims are on
0:54:14 > 0:54:18the Governor's mind. There's been a lot of talk about the inmates.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21I would encourage you to remember the victims throughout this process
0:54:21 > 0:54:24and their families who've had to go this nightmare for 20, 25,
0:54:24 > 0:54:2930 years, and tonight the justice they were hoping to get, er,
0:54:29 > 0:54:31they will once again, not.
0:54:37 > 0:54:38That is my understanding.
0:54:42 > 0:54:43Thank you, guys, very much.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48The Department of Corrections attention now shifts to
0:54:48 > 0:54:51the executions that are scheduled for Thursday.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54At this point, there are no stays in place for either, er,
0:54:54 > 0:54:58Stacey Johnson or Ledell Leaf, and we are under, er,
0:54:58 > 0:55:02the impression and under the assumption that those executions
0:55:02 > 0:55:04will, er, be carried out as scheduled.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06Thank you all.
0:55:54 > 0:55:58This was my third time and I got really close this time.
0:55:58 > 0:55:59I mean, we were right there.
0:56:01 > 0:56:02It's when turned that corner,
0:56:02 > 0:56:05we were like getting ready to go into the... It was like...
0:56:05 > 0:56:07- This is it.- Yeah, this is it.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10- Finally, what we've been waiting for.- Yeah, exactly.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14You were sort of saying yesterday that you're not sure whether you're
0:56:14 > 0:56:16going to do this again.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19Yeah. But do you know what, I think I am.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23It was, like, you know this really possibly could happen,
0:56:23 > 0:56:26and I kind of had a feeling of...
0:56:28 > 0:56:30..like a freedom, like,
0:56:30 > 0:56:35"Oh, my gosh, this might just really happen,"
0:56:35 > 0:56:39and there'll be, like, the skies will clear, you know.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43Part of me could see that there would be closure.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47There would be another feeling that I don't have yet...
0:56:48 > 0:56:52..that will give me closure that'll, like...it's over.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56So, there was like this, like, relief.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59You know, I've taken care of business, it's done.
0:56:59 > 0:57:00But, you know...
0:57:01 > 0:57:02So...
0:57:23 > 0:57:25I saw him kill my mother.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30And I want to know he's dead.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36Ledell Lee is a super predator.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39He kills for fun, he kills for thrill.
0:57:41 > 0:57:46As his attorney, my number one job is making sure he doesn't die.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51We're all here today to try to keep the state from killing people.
0:57:51 > 0:57:53And they may still very well do it.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57PHONE RINGS