0:00:02 > 0:00:06This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13This is a bullet wound in Dominique's head.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18I, Kenneth Williams, am responsible for this.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29My goal was to make sure that we, uh,
0:00:29 > 0:00:34did justice in Arkansas in a way that reflected well on the state.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36This is theatre.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Political theatre.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54The problem is, Midazolam has a history of not working.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59It does not dull the pain, and that's where you've seen these gasping,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03coughing, horrible deaths where it took two hours to die.
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Last Thursday night, Ledell Lee
0:01:10 > 0:01:13became the first Arkansas death row inmate
0:01:13 > 0:01:15put to death in 12 years.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Then on Monday, the first
0:01:17 > 0:01:19double execution in this country since 2000.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31I see Jason McGehee as a monster.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36This is my boy and I don't want him to die.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03ANNOUNCER: Well, welcome back once again to Cummins prison
0:02:03 > 0:02:05after three executions in a week,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08eight scheduled executions over the past ten days.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Uh, it's an incredible story.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12The State of Arkansas uses lethal injection, uh,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17to perform its executions and one of the drugs in that lethal injection
0:02:17 > 0:02:21was about to expire and it appears that the State of Arkansas is unable,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24uh, to acquire any more of that drug.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26So, if these executions were to be carried out,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29they all had to be done before the end of the month of April.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Judgment day arrives today.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33We're keeping our eye on that,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35and we'll bring you the latest throughout the night from here at
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Cummins prison. Beth, let's go back to you in Little Rock.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56- ANNOUNCER:- Governor Asa Hutchinson does have the power to grant executive clemency
0:02:56 > 0:02:58for any or all of these inmates.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01He has said he will maintain that option until the very end, with the
0:03:01 > 0:03:03victims' families close to his heart.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12Today is the clemency hearing for the parole board to go ahead and
0:03:12 > 0:03:15execute the person that murdered my son...
0:03:15 > 0:03:17..is what today is.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20It's justice for my son, is what it is.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I walk in this room and I see a 50/50 chance...
0:03:28 > 0:03:31..that he will be put down and then I see 50% that he will spend
0:03:31 > 0:03:33the rest of his life in jail.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39What would that be like for you and your family if he's let off the
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- death penalty?- I will feel that John has been forgotten.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52What is very difficult on the victims' families is that these
0:03:52 > 0:03:53cases continue to be reviewed.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57The inmates have a right to ask for clemency and they have to go before
0:03:57 > 0:04:01the parole board and have to express themselves and go through the trauma
0:04:01 > 0:04:05again, but the victims' families - that I talk to - say if it's
0:04:05 > 0:04:09the law of the land and a jury metes out that punishment, uh,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11then that should be carried out.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I remember my grandma telling me that John was gone, and I told her,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17I said, '"I don't know what you're talking about.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19"What are you talking about?"
0:04:19 > 0:04:21And she said, "Baby, they've found him."
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I said, "Oh, well, good, John's going to come home," you know.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- Yeah.- She said, "No, baby, they've found him in the woods."
0:04:26 > 0:04:29And then she said, "He's gone, he went to be with Jesus."
0:04:29 > 0:04:31So, I literally jumped out of the car and just fell.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37And she was sobbing, my little brother was sobbing,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and I cried so much that I got sick.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I didn't understand why someone would do that to my brother because
0:04:43 > 0:04:45he had a heart of gold, he would help anybody.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Anybody.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51It's something that happened to all of us.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56We have to make sure that his life and his death was not in vain.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57And I mean, and that's...
0:04:58 > 0:05:00..that's all we can do.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03But... You OK, Dad?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I can remember so many things from whenever I was six.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I remember the day that they found John.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14I remember my mom just broke down crying,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17she held me, and I'm just trying to figure out why for the longest time,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20for about two weeks I was asking my mom, I'm like, you know, "Where is John?"
0:05:20 > 0:05:22You know, "Is John going to come home?"
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Is... you know, "Where's John?" Like, "I miss John, where is he?"
0:05:25 > 0:05:27You know, I'm only six years old.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31SHE SNIFFLES
0:05:32 > 0:05:34You're OK, sis.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Hopefully, today will give us some... Give us some closure.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52This case was about Jason McGehee's direction and participation in
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Harrison, Arkansas in 1996,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57in an hour's long torture and murder of a 15-year-old boy.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01The victim in this case was John Melbourne Junior.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05He was a young boy who was described as eager to please other people.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10He was a special education student and, like a lot of young people,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14impressionable. I don't think you can make this decision that you're
0:06:14 > 0:06:17asked to make - which is very weighty - unless you have
0:06:17 > 0:06:21all the facts. You should know what it is that you're being asked to forgive here.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33He tried to make the best life that he possibly could with his,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35his handicaps.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39It took him longer to learn.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Other kids would be picking on him and stuff, calling him stupid and stuff.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48And he'd get frustrated and aggravated with it all.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51So, he would, he would skip school.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Back then, in the 1990s, all the young kids would hang out at the square.
0:06:58 > 0:07:04He started hanging out with this gang because he wanted acceptance.
0:07:04 > 0:07:10Knowing John, he thought that he could trust them and that they were
0:07:10 > 0:07:12his friends.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Jason McGehee, Ben McFarland and Chris Epps,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20as well as a couple of others, were involved in a string of thefts.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26Jason was 20, he led the group, he was in charge.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Among the things they had taken were some blank cheques and they were
0:07:32 > 0:07:36encouraging John to use those blank cheques, to pass them
0:07:36 > 0:07:38and then get some cash in addition to that.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45John went to a shoe shop and he went in and tried to get a pair of shoes.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49They let him go ahead and pass the bad cheque and they gave him the
0:07:49 > 0:07:51shoes, which was when we became involved.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55He wound up telling us what he knew about the group that had been
0:07:55 > 0:07:59committing the thefts that we had been investigating and passing the
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- cheques.- They called me up from work.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05I went down to the police station and the detective told me what happened,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and that he was going to release John into my custody and let me take
0:08:08 > 0:08:10him home.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11I told John to stay home...
0:08:12 > 0:08:15..um, not to go anywhere.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19I'd be back home in a little while from work and uh,
0:08:19 > 0:08:20we would talk about this.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25When I got home, he was gone.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37This house is where Jason and his friends would hang out,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39this was their crash house.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44I can only imagine my brother walking down this hill...
0:08:45 > 0:08:47..and then walking down them steps and up on that porch...
0:08:49 > 0:08:51..and not realising what's about to happen.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Jason McGehee thought that John...
0:08:59 > 0:09:01..snitched.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03John knocked on the door,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Christopher Epps punched my brother in the face and grabbed him and
0:09:06 > 0:09:08pulled him into the house.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09CAMERA CLICKS
0:09:09 > 0:09:12And that's when they all started beating on John.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21One of the things that does stick out in my mind is that Chris Epps
0:09:21 > 0:09:24would repeatedly kick John with some type of kung fu kick.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31That was really only a pre-cursor to the beating that was given to John
0:09:31 > 0:09:35at the abandoned house, um, near Omaha.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41They had John bound, so that he couldn't escape,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and they drove him to the house at Omaha.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48At one point, one of the participants asked John how it felt
0:09:48 > 0:09:50to know that he was going to die.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55So, it became apparent that the group had some type of plan in mind.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22At the house, there is a lengthy beating process that takes place,
0:10:22 > 0:10:27that particularly Chris Epps is involved in, as well as McFarland
0:10:27 > 0:10:28and Jason McGehee.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32His arms and legs were broken...
0:10:34 > 0:10:39..he had broken ribs, and they broke all his bones in his face and his
0:10:39 > 0:10:41skull was fractured in many places.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Until they finally brought him this way.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I'm sure he was scared.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00At some point, the group made a decision to execute John,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03they were going to kill him and the way they were going to do that was
0:11:03 > 0:11:07to take him out into the woods, some distance from the abandoned house.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10Jason McGehee,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Ben McFarland and Chris Epps put John on his knees and they take
0:11:14 > 0:11:17turns strangling him with a piece of electrical cord.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23One person would hold the cord, one end in each hand, with the cord
0:11:23 > 0:11:25around John's neck from behind,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and they would put their knee into his upper spine or the back of his
0:11:28 > 0:11:32neck and push forward until they could hear him choking and gurgling.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40It is ultimately Ben McFarland who tells me in an interview that he was
0:11:40 > 0:11:46the one who was actively strangling John Melbourne when he loses his life.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54I've gotta deal with this, losing my son.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I live with this every day.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00There ain't a holiday that don't go by...
0:12:01 > 0:12:03..that I don't cry.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12To do something like this to a child, a 15-year-old child,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15think if it was your child, how would you all feel?
0:12:17 > 0:12:23The victims of crimes, I've been noticing, don't get justice,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27but I promised John that I would get justice for him, I would be his
0:12:27 > 0:12:30voice and I will be his voice till I die.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38After that,
0:12:38 > 0:12:39basically, our family fell apart.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43My parents got a divorce, us kids were separated.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47And just, to be honest, everything went to hell.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50It was a living hell after that.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59During the course of the interviews, it became quickly apparent that
0:12:59 > 0:13:03there was one person who was leading the group and that was Jason McGehee.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08This event happened primarily because of McGehee's involvement and
0:13:08 > 0:13:11depending on whose statement you care to give more credence to, um,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14one person was more responsible than the others,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19but the common denominator in all of the statements was that McGehee
0:13:19 > 0:13:23orchestrated everything and McGehee was in charge of what happened that night.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Jason McGehee received the death sentence,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Chris Epps was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I occasionally check on him and make sure he's still in there.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Uh, Ben McFarland was also given life without parole.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41That was later overturned by the Supreme Court because of his age at
0:13:41 > 0:13:45the time. He took a plea deal and agreed to take the maximum sentence,
0:13:45 > 0:13:50which was 40 years. That makes him eligible for parole in 2025.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55In my opinion, did Jason McGehee receive a fair sentence for
0:13:55 > 0:13:57what happened? Yes.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02Do you think it's right that the person who actually took John's life
0:14:02 > 0:14:06could be out of prison, and someone that didn't actually take John's
0:14:06 > 0:14:08life, could be put to death?
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Do I think that's right?
0:14:13 > 0:14:14I think that...
0:14:16 > 0:14:18..I am not the person that had to make that decision.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32- You did good.- Thank you.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35- How did it go?- It was emotional.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I'm not sure.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42I-I think they'll really think it over, um,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44I'm not sure.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Arkansas is just really, um, a good Christian state.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00We have a Christian governor in our state, which is wonderful.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Governor Hutchinson is a conservative governor.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09He was elected in 2014 and, you know, I can honestly say that I
0:15:09 > 0:15:12voted for him. And he's doing an exceptional job.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16He's very pro-life.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19We have a march for life every year, against abortion,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and he's always there.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25I think he's a really good Christian honest man,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and he's trying to do good for our state.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32How can you be a Christian and kill someone?
0:15:32 > 0:15:36You're pleasing one part of the Bible Belt, but you see what I'm saying?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39People that believe in justice as the Bible says it,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42but they don't ever think about the other part of Christianity,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46about how you're supposed to love your neighbour and, you know, give
0:15:46 > 0:15:48people forgiveness and all that kind of stuff.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59We do not rape rapists and say that is just.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03We do not steal from thieves and say it is just.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07We do not torch the homes of arsonists and say it is just.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12However, we somehow have the notion that it is morally justifiable to
0:16:12 > 0:16:14kill in pre-meditated and deliberate fashion -
0:16:14 > 0:16:16that's the legal definition of murder -
0:16:16 > 0:16:18people who have killed,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21and we say that is morally justifiable.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23That is nonsense.
0:16:25 > 0:16:32We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- created equal.- Yes, sir.
0:16:34 > 0:16:41And they are endowed by their creator with inalienable
0:16:41 > 0:16:47rights, and among these are life,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51that's the first one.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- The empire is not the giver of life. - That's right.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58God does.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02APPLAUSE
0:17:02 > 0:17:03This is about politics...
0:17:05 > 0:17:07..it's about politics...
0:17:08 > 0:17:11..and you can quote me on this, come on.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17You are going to kill them because the drugs are expiring?
0:17:19 > 0:17:20This is theatre.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28Political theatre, so that people can say, "We killed people
0:17:28 > 0:17:30"y'all don't like."
0:17:32 > 0:17:34That is not justice any time.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37It's a lynching.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43Jesus' work was dangerous work, if you challenged Herod in his palace,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46that's dangerous work.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49If you challenge the governor, that's dangerous work,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53if his name is Pontius Pilate, or the name of your governor here,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55that's dangerous work.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00If you challenge the powers that think they have the right to decide
0:18:00 > 0:18:04over life and death, and who will die and who will live,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- whether that was a fair trial or... - Yeah.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09..whether the death will be too painful, it doesn't really matter.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13The one for blood lust is the one with power and that's the one who
0:18:13 > 0:18:18wants to make the decision. If you challenge that, that's dangerous work.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21- Yeah.- The world in which we live is a bad world,
0:18:21 > 0:18:22but Jesus can make it right.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24CHEERING
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Some lawmakers are calling for a Pulaski County judge to resign,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32after he took part in a protest on Friday.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Judge Wendell Griffen has become controversial after he went to the
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Governor's Mansion to protest.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Judge Griffen publicly protested capital punishment.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44He's currently not allowed to hear cases pertaining to the
0:18:44 > 0:18:46death penalty or execution protocols.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The death penalty is just,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02it's good against evil.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05I see Jason McGehee...
0:19:07 > 0:19:09..as a predator.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12I see Jason McGehee as a monster.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18If the clemency is not granted, will you be at the execution?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20I will.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24I will watch him. I will watch him.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30McGehee was there to see my brother take his last breath,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34I'm going to be there to see him - McGehee - take HIS last breath.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39It's their choice.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41They, they want to watch him be
0:19:41 > 0:19:45executed, then that's, that's on them.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47I don't.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49I don't want to see another person die.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57For a long time, I was for capital punishment, until I started doing a
0:19:57 > 0:19:59lot of soul-searching on my own.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05I have come to the conclusion to that it's not going to benefit me
0:20:05 > 0:20:06in the end.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09I don't want to see anyone else suffer...
0:20:10 > 0:20:11..as my family has.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21My heart aches for his family.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26It's heartbreaking to think of that...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29..to know that it looms over your head.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32I can't imagine.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40This was Jason's baby picture, right after he was born.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I was really glad that he was a boy.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48All the rest of my kids is girls, they're all girls.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49He was my only boy.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56Um...this picture here and everything,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58he was with me in my pick-up.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05He's like anybody else, um, any kid growing up.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07He got with the wrong crowd.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14My family was Confederate - that's uh,
0:21:14 > 0:21:19General Jackson with his troops out in the forest.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21This here is Robert E Lee.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Jason done them all by hand, he's a very good artist.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35He made that for... He handmade that.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41A person that is distorted
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and angry at the world and everything like that,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47couldn't make anything as beautiful as this.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58I feel sorry for John's family and everything like that,
0:21:58 > 0:22:02and I wish there was something I could do about it or reverse everything.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04But this is my boy,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08and, um, I don't want him to die.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15This is my garden here.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19I'm building it up and everything here.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I'll take these old tyres and fill them full of dirt until I get a wall.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I've got two more rows, I've got this row and another row.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31Then I'm putting loads of dirt in here and raise everything up for a
0:22:31 > 0:22:33raised garden and everything.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39It'll work out pretty good and it don't cost me really that much, uh,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41the price of dirt and that's about it.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47And when Jason was here, he helped me a lot.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52He likes, he likes flowers, he liked trees, bushes, gardening, um,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55he likes the same thing as I do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05He's been incarcerated for a long time.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09He don't go outside, he's in a box all the time.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14You know, whenever I go down there,
0:23:14 > 0:23:19he's like a little puppy, cos he's very grateful somebody comes down to
0:23:19 > 0:23:22see him and we talk and talk and talk,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26and I wish there was something that I could do for him or bring him or
0:23:26 > 0:23:30something like that. But, uh, there's not too much I can do.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50The clemency hearing is supposed to give a valuation to see if they can
0:23:50 > 0:23:52take Jason off death row.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58I'm anxious about it, I want him to start looking forward...
0:23:59 > 0:24:01..to a life besides that prison.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06If they get him off death row, maybe we can get him off the rest of it
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and everything for what, he's spent 19, 20 years down there.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14He's... For something he didn't even do, and, um,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16I'd like to see him out.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35We are here today in the matter of Jason McGehee, who is serving a
0:24:35 > 0:24:38sentence of death. And Mr McGehee is,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41in fact, requesting life without parole.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Good morning, Chairman, and members of the board.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51This is Jason, I'm John Williams, um,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55and we appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to make our
0:24:55 > 0:24:59case for clemency. You, as the parole board, are in the unique and
0:24:59 > 0:25:02really awesome position of doing something that no court is able to do,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06and that's to look at Jason McGehee as a whole person, and despite his
0:25:06 > 0:25:10offence, to say that there is value to his life and that the state
0:25:10 > 0:25:11should not take it.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15First, I would like to address the disproportionality in sentences, uh,
0:25:15 > 0:25:19between Jason and the primary co-defendants in this case, uh,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Ben McFarland and Chris Epps.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25This was a group action through and through.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27No-one disputes that Ben,
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Chris and Jason all participated in John's beating.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34No-one disputes that each of them was present at John's death,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and no-one disputes that it was Ben who actually killed John.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43But Chris now has a life without parole sentence and Ben will have
0:25:43 > 0:25:48the opportunity to come before you in 2025 and request parole.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51We don't begrudge Ben that,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54but the difference between parole and death in this circumstance is
0:25:54 > 0:25:59too great a difference. The second point - and I think this is perhaps
0:25:59 > 0:26:05the most important one, uh, Jason has shown after his incarceration, uh,
0:26:05 > 0:26:06that he has been rehabilitated.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11He's been back there for 19 years and in those 19 years he has received
0:26:11 > 0:26:14only one disciplinary infraction, which was for covering a light.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18He's never been violent, he's never bothered anyone.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Ray Hobbs is here, the former director of the department and, uh,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25he's going to tell you a little bit more about how remarkable that is.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- Good morning. - ALL: Good morning.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32I believe in the death penalty, I do.
0:26:32 > 0:26:38Justice, justice should include mercy, redemption,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40forgiveness and now
0:26:40 > 0:26:45if you take all those into factor and you look at Jason...
0:26:46 > 0:26:50..with those factors, I think you would have to come to a conclusion,
0:26:50 > 0:26:51he has learnt his lesson.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56If you can get up 19 years in a row and not have a...
0:26:57 > 0:27:03..bad day with staff or other inmates, that's pretty remarkable.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08I mean, I have not, in my 40 years, seen a file that clean.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Yes, it would be my recommendation
0:27:11 > 0:27:14that this board consider Jason for clemency.
0:27:14 > 0:27:20I think he has a lot to still offer that he can give to others,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22if his life is spared.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29The short time I knew John, he was always a friend.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31I never wanted John to die.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I regret my involvement in that whole night.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35I wish I could change what happened.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38John deserved to live, none of this should have happened.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43All my co-defendants, except Chris Epps, get the chance
0:27:43 > 0:27:47to be out there, including Ben, and become better people than we were
0:27:47 > 0:27:49that night, as out-of-control kids.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Maybe they can make up for our actions a little bit but none of us
0:27:52 > 0:27:54can take it back, none of us can
0:27:54 > 0:27:57take the pain away from John's family.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00I wish I could make my involvement up to them, but that's not possible.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04I'm sorry for my involvement. I know they can't,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06but I wish they could accept my apology.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11I also know this is a hard position that this board is in deciding life
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and death, and I'm sorry you're in the position because of me.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Thank you for listening to me and thank you for your time.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20On a personal note, uh,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I've known Jason for a year and a half, since I was assigned to his case.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26I visit him often, I've gotten to know him.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27He's my friend.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33He's a good human being, no matter what other people say about him
0:28:33 > 0:28:37later today, and his story is a testament to how a life can be rehabilitated and
0:28:37 > 0:28:41redeemed and executing him would just be the waste of a life of a
0:28:41 > 0:28:44person who has a lot of good left to give to this world.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47So, I would ask the board to recommend clemency.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48- Thank you.- Thank you very much.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14This is my brother...
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- ..when he went to go and visit his brother.- Josh.
0:29:18 > 0:29:23Josh. That was the last picture his mom had of her son.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24SHE SNIFFLES
0:29:26 > 0:29:28This is all of us together.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33We were pretty happy then.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- That's Clessie...- Yeah.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- ..and that's me.- Is that the last family picture that you have?
0:29:40 > 0:29:42- Yeah.- OK.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43Yep.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46He was our protector.
0:29:47 > 0:29:52There's times where I will sit there and just talk to him,
0:29:52 > 0:29:54like this interview, I didn't know if I should do it,
0:29:54 > 0:29:58but I knew that John would want me to get his story out...
0:29:59 > 0:30:02..and I don't think John would want him to be executed.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03Really?
0:30:05 > 0:30:06I don't think he would.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08I really don't.
0:30:13 > 0:30:18You are very different from your sister in the death penalty,
0:30:18 > 0:30:19- in your views.- Yes.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21- Yes.- What do you think needs to happen?
0:30:21 > 0:30:25I feel that Jason McGehee needs... needs the death penalty.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29He chose to take a life and he has to pay for what he did.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35It killed me knowing that...
0:30:36 > 0:30:41..my brother had to experience this, because he was such....
0:30:41 > 0:30:45He was a good boy, he was a good brother.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47He didn't deserve that.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50SHE SNIFFLES
0:30:56 > 0:30:59I was for the death penalty for a long time.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Once I forgave him, that's when I...
0:31:04 > 0:31:05..I was released from that prison.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08So, hopefully...
0:31:09 > 0:31:12..my sister can get... Reach that point too.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Um, um, I don't know. I can forgive a lot...
0:31:24 > 0:31:28- ..it's just he, he has to pay for what he's done.- But...
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- You can't just...- Something that...- ..use that excuse though. - ..severe.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34I know, I get what you're saying.
0:31:34 > 0:31:41You know, the severity of that situation. It's... It has to, in my opinion, it has to be done.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43It's, you know...
0:31:43 > 0:31:45- OK, so what if...?- An eye for an eye, that's my view.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49OK, so what if they come back and say, "You know what, we're just going to go
0:31:49 > 0:31:52"ahead and just let him..." Life with, uh, life without parole.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Are we good with that?
0:31:54 > 0:31:59- No, I wouldn't.- Why?- Because, for one, he'll be living off of us once again.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01The same with all the other people that were involved,
0:32:01 > 0:32:05- and we...like, during our childhood, during everything...- I know.
0:32:05 > 0:32:06- ..the crap that we went through. - I know that.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08And we struggled, and they couldn't.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12- They have a roof over their head, they had food in their stomach... - I know what you mean.
0:32:12 > 0:32:13..while we had to starve. No.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16But it would also mean that we don't have to deal with it any more.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19We don't have to worry about it going back to the Supreme Court,
0:32:19 > 0:32:23we don't have to worry about worrying if he's going to get out.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26We don't have to worry about any of that, we can actually move forward.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30And that, that, I think, would be the best thing.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32I'm just... It would be peace of mind for me.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34What about peace and love, maybe?
0:32:34 > 0:32:38- For me, it would, so...- OK.- Oh, well.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Well, all right...
0:32:49 > 0:32:51I don't believe, uh, in the death penalty.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54I just don't believe it. I couldn't do it.
0:32:54 > 0:32:59And to me, if a person is being punished in the prison,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02that's punishment enough, punishment enough, for me.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08I think it's a damn shame we have to do it,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12but there are certain people that need to be...
0:33:13 > 0:33:16..done away with rather than spend our hard-earned money trying to
0:33:16 > 0:33:18rehabilitate them.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Rehabilitating someone on death row, that's poppycock.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29How could you take someone that did something so terrible and turn them
0:33:29 > 0:33:31back into a good person?
0:33:32 > 0:33:33In my opinion, it can't be done.
0:33:37 > 0:33:43Each of these cases began with individuals being murdered in a
0:33:43 > 0:33:45heinous fashion, and some people say,
0:33:45 > 0:33:47"Well, why don't you just keep them in prison forever?"
0:33:47 > 0:33:51Well, you have to worry about... Are they going to be a danger to, uh,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53society again,
0:33:53 > 0:33:58danger to those who have to guard them and have contact with them in prison?
0:33:58 > 0:34:02One of the inmates was given life in prison without parole and he
0:34:02 > 0:34:03escaped and killed somebody.
0:34:14 > 0:34:21The interesting thing about Kenneth Williams is that he has undergone an
0:34:21 > 0:34:25extensive transformation, uh, in prison.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29I've been on his case, uh, for a number of years and he has, uh,
0:34:29 > 0:34:31matured, uh...
0:34:32 > 0:34:35..very impressively during that time.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39And his case presents a question - does change,
0:34:39 > 0:34:46rehabilitation, remorse have any impact on whether death should be
0:34:46 > 0:34:47inflicted as a remedy?
0:34:52 > 0:34:54God have mercy on this wretched man,
0:34:54 > 0:34:57conceived in sin,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59brought forth in iniquity.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06I was raised in a dysfunctional home where there was drug abuse.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11After my parents' separation, when I was eight years old,
0:35:11 > 0:35:15I was sexually molested by another kid.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18I was guilt-ridden,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21too ashamed to speak out,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25and so I suffered in silence and in loneliness...
0:35:26 > 0:35:29..out of which came forth vengeance and a vow...
0:35:30 > 0:35:34..never again to be victimised prey.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39To be the one on the offence, not the defence.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43To be the predator, not the prey.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Hello, everybody, how are you doing?
0:35:49 > 0:35:50LAUGHTER
0:36:18 > 0:36:20I'm Lieutenant Greg Bowman,
0:36:20 > 0:36:23I'm a criminal investigator with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department
0:36:23 > 0:36:26and we're at the Bonanza Restaurant in Pine Bluff,
0:36:26 > 0:36:29the scene of a kidnapping that led to a murder and attempted murder
0:36:29 > 0:36:33that occurred on December the 13th of 1998.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Also present is victim Peter Robertson.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- Peter, is this the parking lot where it started from?- Yes, it is.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41OK, just walk and show me what happened where.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Nicky Hurd and Peter Robertson had been to church when Kenneth Williams
0:36:49 > 0:36:53took the opportunity to pull a gun on those two college students.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Forced them into the car that they had borrowed.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58He drove them around Pine Bluff,
0:36:58 > 0:37:00he took them to an ATM to get money out.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17I told myself, "I will release them unharmed."
0:37:17 > 0:37:20They weren't a problem at all.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I had what I wanted, money.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Then he had them get on their knees behind an abandoned building off
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Hardin Reed Road, got in the car, to steal their car and leave,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44and then he backed up...
0:37:45 > 0:37:46"They saw your face...
0:37:48 > 0:37:51"..they'll expose you to the cops.
0:37:51 > 0:37:52"Aren't you still on parole?
0:37:53 > 0:37:59"You are so busted, that is unless you go back and get rid of the problem."
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Sadly, I went back.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19I shot both of them execution-style...
0:38:20 > 0:38:26..while one held on to a Bible and the other begged for their lives.
0:38:26 > 0:38:27I felt nothing.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45This is a bullet wound in Dominique's leg.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48I am responsible for that.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56This is a bullet wound
0:38:56 > 0:38:57in Dominique's thigh...
0:38:59 > 0:39:01VOICE BREAKS: I am responsible for this.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09This is a bullet wound in Dominique's head...
0:39:11 > 0:39:15I, Kenneth Williams, am responsible for this.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28The young man ended up surviving the encounter, while the young woman
0:39:28 > 0:39:31had her life senselessly stolen away.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38In 1999, I was given a sentence of life without parole.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43At 20 years old, I barely missed the death penalty.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48- ANNOUNCER:- Publicly, Kenneth Williams seemed amused by the idea of going to
0:39:48 > 0:39:50prison for the rest of his life.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53During his September trial, he reportedly laughed when his sentence
0:39:53 > 0:39:57was announced, and told the slain teenager's family, quote,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00"You thought I was going to die, didn't you?"
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Two wrongs don't make a right, killing him does not bring her back.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09As long as he's being punished or as long as he's in prison, then we're fine.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Last Sunday, he brought his victim's parents even more grief when he
0:40:14 > 0:40:17escaped from prison, and no-one knows exactly how.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22We found a bed sheet outside the chapel, on the ground.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26There is the possibility that that could have been used as a way to
0:40:26 > 0:40:29help climb one of the cross fences, one of the interior fences.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32As officials interviewed fellow inmates and guards,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36residents in nearby Grady question the security of the prison that's
0:40:36 > 0:40:39been this community's neighbour for nearly 100 years.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43During my escape,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47I felt compelled to eliminate any threats that could jeopardise my
0:40:47 > 0:40:49efforts for freedom.
0:40:50 > 0:40:56I cold-bloodedly shot and killed a man with his own gun,
0:40:56 > 0:40:57in his own home.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Cecil Boren was 57.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07He was a father, a grandfather,
0:41:07 > 0:41:10a husband for 34 years to his wife, Jean.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Cecil had stayed home from church that morning to work in his yard.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Williams shot Cecil seven times,
0:41:20 > 0:41:25killing him and then stealing his truck,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28his guns and other valuable items.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32He drove Cecil's truck to Missouri, where he led police on a high-speed
0:41:32 > 0:41:37chase, killing another person, driver Michael Greenwood.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Not yet 21 years old,
0:41:52 > 0:41:57within a few months of my first death penalty trial, the State of Arkansas
0:41:57 > 0:42:00pursued the death penalty against me for capital murder.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04The second time around, the state succeeded.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10My reason for making an appearance before you
0:42:10 > 0:42:16is to answer the critics who say, "Lock them up, throw away the key,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19"there's no changing this one."
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Inside my prison cell on death row
0:42:22 > 0:42:28I surrendered my life to Christ, if he could accept it.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31On September 4th, 2005,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35I officially became an ordained minister in the First Trinity Church
0:42:35 > 0:42:40Of God In Christ, and life for me hasn't been the same since.
0:42:42 > 0:42:43I'm a death row preacher.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46My prison cell has become my pulpit.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Let me be an example.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Behold, God's workmanship...
0:42:55 > 0:42:56..before you...
0:42:58 > 0:43:00..transformed and in his right mind.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07All right, this will conclude the executive clemency hearing for
0:43:07 > 0:43:11Kenneth Williams. Thank you very much.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14These people deserve to be punished.
0:43:14 > 0:43:19We're not talking about death versus being out on the street.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23We're talking about death versus a lifetime of incarceration.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Looking ahead, Kenneth Williams is scheduled to die by lethal injection
0:43:39 > 0:43:43on Thursday. The original schedule set by the governor had two
0:43:43 > 0:43:46executions but Jason McGehee will not be put to death.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49He's the only condemned prisoner who received a recommendation of
0:43:49 > 0:43:52clemency from the parole board, following his hearing last month.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54A judge also stayed his execution.
0:43:54 > 0:43:59The Attorney General says she's not challenging that ruling.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11The parole board recommended clemency.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17His execution will not happen on the 27th of April.
0:44:19 > 0:44:24Right now, they're waiting to see if Governor Hutchinson grants him
0:44:24 > 0:44:27clemency and if he does not grant him clemency then....
0:44:27 > 0:44:30..then he will get a new date for execution.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33So, right now we're just waiting on the governor to decide.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37I'm getting tired of us being pulled around,
0:44:37 > 0:44:39trying to figure out what's going on.
0:44:39 > 0:44:44I am - yes - very angry about them recommending the clemency,
0:44:44 > 0:44:47but right now it's just... It's hard to express because I am.
0:44:47 > 0:44:48I'm mentally, I'm physically drained.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54He's not worth your energy.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58Just give him life without parole, he'll be gone from our lives,
0:44:58 > 0:45:01he won't be in our life any more.
0:45:01 > 0:45:06I don't ever hear about Christopher Epps and he has life without parole.
0:45:06 > 0:45:07We don't ever hear about him...
0:45:09 > 0:45:14..and if he had life without parole, we wouldn't have to hear about
0:45:14 > 0:45:17Jason McGehee. And that's it.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Yeah, with knowing, you know, what all has happened,
0:45:21 > 0:45:24you know, what we had to endure...
0:45:26 > 0:45:27..just with the executions...
0:45:30 > 0:45:32..honestly, I think I would agree,
0:45:32 > 0:45:35you know, like, with the whole life without parole because it...
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Right now, it's just... I'm so mentally drained.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45It's, it's becoming overwhelming, it really is.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51I just... Yeah, honestly, I'd go with life without parole, just screw it.
0:45:51 > 0:45:52I don't... I'm just... I'm done...
0:45:54 > 0:45:55..I'm burned out.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36I haven't had the chance to get in here because of the weather.
0:46:36 > 0:46:42I've put sweet potatoes in, beans, cabbage and the tomato plants.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45Um, corn.
0:46:45 > 0:46:46And then my watermelons...
0:46:46 > 0:46:50..and cantaloupes, is what I've been planting.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54It's coming around, it's just going to take time.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Now he has the recommendation,
0:47:01 > 0:47:03clemency is just out there.
0:47:03 > 0:47:09The only reason that he wouldn't get clemency is that the governor just
0:47:09 > 0:47:12kind of says, "Heck with it," and not give it to him.
0:47:12 > 0:47:18It's not right that they prosecute him, like, death row, and they don't...
0:47:18 > 0:47:21..don't prosecute the others that actually done it.
0:47:29 > 0:47:34This is a letter of declaration from Chris Epps,
0:47:34 > 0:47:36one of the boys that killed that kid.
0:47:36 > 0:47:42It says, "As far as John's death is concerned,
0:47:42 > 0:47:46"I started it and Ben finished it.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51"Jason really should not have received the death penalty.
0:47:51 > 0:47:58"What I did was no-one's fault but my own, but I tried to blame Jason.
0:47:59 > 0:48:06"I was the first one to hit John, Jason did not ask me to do this.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09"I just...did it.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11"I choked him at the end.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14"Both Ben and I strangled John.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16"Jason never strangled John.
0:48:17 > 0:48:23"My lawyer always said the best defence strategy would be to say
0:48:23 > 0:48:25"that Jason was the main one.
0:48:27 > 0:48:34"I wasn't coerced in any way by anyone to do anything to John."
0:48:35 > 0:48:36And then he signs it...
0:48:38 > 0:48:41..June 13th, 2011.
0:48:45 > 0:48:50I think the governor will accept the recommendation, um, I hope so.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56He should have time served and let him out, but, uh,
0:48:56 > 0:48:58they're not going to do that.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00But, um,
0:49:00 > 0:49:05at least he'll be... At least he'll still be alive.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20All right, ladies, you all have a good day.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22- Thank you.- You're welcome.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26- Bye, John.- Bye.- Y'all take care.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31He had no mercy,
0:49:31 > 0:49:37he had no...nothing for human life when he killed my son.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39So, I don't see...
0:49:40 > 0:49:46..uh, why people have mercy for him, you know, and if, if our peers,
0:49:46 > 0:49:51if our peers, our 12 peers in the courthouse listened to all the evidence
0:49:51 > 0:49:54and seen all the evidence
0:49:54 > 0:49:55and says guilty...
0:49:56 > 0:50:00..for capital murder and receives the death sentence,
0:50:00 > 0:50:02then it should be carried through.
0:50:02 > 0:50:06All these, all this other stuff is hogwash.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10It's just a way of trying to get a person off death row...
0:50:11 > 0:50:14..but not actually seeing what that person's done...
0:50:16 > 0:50:19..not only to my son, to my whole family...
0:50:20 > 0:50:23..or any victim's family.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27It's not right. I mean, you know...
0:50:28 > 0:50:32..that's the way I look at it. So, that's the way it is.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52People can have unconditional love for you,
0:50:52 > 0:50:55a stranger that's never met you, somebody that can connect with you,
0:50:55 > 0:50:57just even somebody just walking by...
0:50:58 > 0:51:02..you can bring a beautiful thing out of any situation.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06There can be good out of anything.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23Kenneth Williams is convicted of killing my father.
0:51:25 > 0:51:26I was five when it happened.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31- Do you remember your father?- Yes.
0:51:31 > 0:51:36- What was your father like? - Goofy, funny, a jokester,
0:51:36 > 0:51:39the life of the party, the life of the room.
0:51:39 > 0:51:41Everybody loved him.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43He was a great guy, a great dad.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45He just wanted to be...
0:51:45 > 0:51:47..a dad, a family guy, you know.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50We were not born.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54He died in October, and we were born in December.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57They never met him, but they look just like him and they act like him.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02- So...- I mean, we know what it's like growing up without a father and we
0:52:02 > 0:52:04would give anything to meet him.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Oh, I'm so nervous. What time is it?
0:52:07 > 0:52:08It's 1:04.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11I guess, so... So she should be landing any minute.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14We are waiting for Jasmine and her daughter.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Jasmine is Kenneth William's daughter,
0:52:17 > 0:52:20and she should be getting off the plane any time now.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23Yeah, it's from Denver, Denver, Colorado.
0:52:23 > 0:52:28Well, my mom had sent me a link and Jasmine said that it had been
0:52:28 > 0:52:3017 years since she had seen her dad,
0:52:30 > 0:52:35and I just related to that so much, because it has been 17 years since
0:52:35 > 0:52:39I've seen my dad, and you know, I just, I would want that so much.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43So, just for her to be able to have that is amazing.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46How is she actually affording to get here?
0:52:46 > 0:52:49My mom and stepdad bought the tickets for them.
0:52:50 > 0:52:55Tomorrow, she will be a victim, and her daughter, you know.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59And so, anything we can do to give comfort, make it
0:52:59 > 0:53:05any better, you know, I... I dunno...
0:53:05 > 0:53:07That's why.
0:53:13 > 0:53:14Hi!
0:53:21 > 0:53:25Hi! My name is Kayla, it's nice to meet you.
0:53:26 > 0:53:28Don't be scared. It's OK.
0:53:30 > 0:53:31You're so beautiful.
0:53:41 > 0:53:42Are you excited?
0:53:43 > 0:53:46You're going to see your grandpa.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54I don't feel anything but love for him.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57I feel like he was the first victim.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00You know, you're not born evil...
0:54:00 > 0:54:04..or a monster, it's created through his life, his trauma, I don't know.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09But I mean, trauma can change you, a bad childhood,
0:54:09 > 0:54:12it changes the course of your life.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14I feel
0:54:14 > 0:54:16that the guy that did those things -
0:54:16 > 0:54:19horrible things - is already dead
0:54:19 > 0:54:23and this is a new guy that, you know, this isn't the same guy.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27So, that's a good thing, that's justice, you know.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Come on, I'm coming in too.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34We're going to all get in together, your mommy's going to ride next to you.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39I have a lot of guilt towards
0:54:39 > 0:54:42the victims and
0:54:42 > 0:54:44the families that he's hurt.
0:54:44 > 0:54:49And then because he's hurt those people, it's led to me not having a
0:54:49 > 0:54:52father and everything, as well. So, I do not know why,
0:54:52 > 0:54:57and I've always wondered what drove him to do these such crazy callous
0:54:57 > 0:55:01things because I'm, like, even though I'm his daughter I, I don't, like,
0:55:01 > 0:55:05get into fights or anything, I could never hurt anyone, you know.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07- Yeah.- I just have...- The question...
0:55:08 > 0:55:12- ..just so much questions.- Yeah. - ..that I haven't been able to ask.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35I think it went pretty well.
0:56:35 > 0:56:36They took some pictures.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39Oh, you got some photographs, wow.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41And this is his parents, as well, too.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47I feel a little bit better now that I finally got to see him and got to say my goodbye
0:56:47 > 0:56:50- and everything, and...- He was so excited, he said it,
0:56:50 > 0:56:51"You know, I haven't seen..." he
0:56:51 > 0:56:54said, "I can't think of the last time I saw a child."
0:56:54 > 0:56:55Yeah, he just, he said that too.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58Are you going to get to see some family?
0:56:58 > 0:57:00Yeah. I got to meet my grandfather and see my grandma for the first
0:57:00 > 0:57:03time in over 18 years.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07You remember that when you left, you were, you were like this.
0:57:07 > 0:57:08Yeah.
0:57:08 > 0:57:13- Yeah.- And I didn't even realise that I came here before and he was, like,
0:57:13 > 0:57:16it was the same room and, you know...
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Most people, they say they've changed and, like, their actions
0:57:19 > 0:57:22show different. And it's, like...
0:57:22 > 0:57:25..with him, I, I do believe that he really has changed.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29He really has. I mean, he's, he's a really outstanding human being.
0:57:42 > 0:57:45We have pleadings filed in lots of different courts, uh,
0:57:45 > 0:57:49both state and federal, and now the stays of execution is filed, and
0:57:49 > 0:57:52you know, we're hoping for the best.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54It's an uphill battle, but we're hoping for the best.
0:57:54 > 0:57:57What do you think his chances are?
0:57:57 > 0:57:59I don't think they're so great.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08I'll do my very best.
0:58:53 > 0:58:58Society has everyone believing that the ultimate justice you can get is
0:58:58 > 0:59:01death. When you get that, you've got the ultimate justice for your loved
0:59:01 > 0:59:05one, for your family, for, you know, and it's just not true.
0:59:05 > 0:59:07That's not justice.
0:59:07 > 0:59:11So, everyone just believes that, they believe a lie.
0:59:28 > 0:59:31ANNOUNCER: We are here once again tonight, this is our fourth time at Cummins
0:59:31 > 0:59:34since a week ago Monday.
0:59:34 > 0:59:38Uh, we have seen three executions so far, one more scheduled for tonight.
0:59:38 > 0:59:42We have just seen the witnesses arrive for the scheduled execution
0:59:42 > 0:59:45of Kenneth Williams, who murdered Cecil Boren back in 1999.
0:59:45 > 0:59:48His judgment day arrives today.
0:59:48 > 0:59:51There was another inmate, who was recommended for clemency, and because
0:59:51 > 0:59:54he won that recommendation of clemency, his execution was put off.
1:00:15 > 1:00:21Earlier this afternoon, Kenneth Williams received his last meal.
1:00:21 > 1:00:26In lieu of a last meal he requested, uh, communion.
1:00:26 > 1:00:30And communion was administered to him by his spiritual advisor.
1:02:36 > 1:02:37PHONE RINGS
1:03:05 > 1:03:06ANNOUNCER: Breaking news -
1:03:06 > 1:03:10we have now learned that Kenneth Williams is the latest Arkansas
1:03:10 > 1:03:14death row inmate to be put to death by the state for his capital crimes.
1:03:14 > 1:03:16- He was pronounced dead. - That's right.
1:03:16 > 1:03:19The first injection happened at 10.52pm.
1:03:19 > 1:03:2211:05 being the time of death here.
1:03:36 > 1:03:39The following is the last statement of Kenneth Williams.
1:03:41 > 1:03:45"To Kayla Greenwood and the whole Greenwood family,
1:03:45 > 1:03:48"the acts of grace,
1:03:48 > 1:03:54"forgiveness and mercy you demonstrated toward the person who
1:03:54 > 1:03:59"had taken so much from you, by bringing to me in prison my own baby
1:03:59 > 1:04:01"and grandchild,
1:04:01 > 1:04:03"right before my scheduled execution...
1:04:05 > 1:04:11"No rapist, murderer, terrorist, butcher, barbarian,
1:04:11 > 1:04:17"not even old Beelzebub himself could withstand such a blast of
1:04:17 > 1:04:22"glorious light and continue to walk in darkness.
1:04:22 > 1:04:28"The next words will be spoken in my native language tongue..."
1:04:28 > 1:04:33At which point, he spoke in what would be commonly described as
1:04:33 > 1:04:35in tongues.
1:04:40 > 1:04:45Also, uh, I do want to make you all aware that
1:04:45 > 1:04:49I was informed that at approximately
1:04:49 > 1:04:5410.55pm Kenneth Williams did, uh,
1:04:54 > 1:04:57shake for approximately ten seconds.
1:05:02 > 1:05:05The media witnesses are en route back to the centre.
1:05:05 > 1:05:08Had the consciousness check been performed when he shook?
1:05:08 > 1:05:11That's the extent of the information I have at this time.
1:05:16 > 1:05:20- ANNOUNCER:- At 10:55, Kenneth Williams did, quote, "shake".
1:05:20 > 1:05:24This does seem to be a bit out of the ordinary compared to, to some
1:05:24 > 1:05:26of the other, uh, executions.
1:05:26 > 1:05:29We will wait to see exactly what happens there.
1:05:32 > 1:05:35Uh, since we're all on a deadline I'll start with what we all have
1:05:35 > 1:05:41in our notes as, "Coughing, convulsing, lurching, jerking with sound."
1:05:41 > 1:05:43Even with the microphone turned off,
1:05:43 > 1:05:46we were actually able to hear
1:05:46 > 1:05:50things in the witness area from the execution chamber.
1:05:50 > 1:05:53The execution started at 10:52 and at the time, uh,
1:05:53 > 1:05:55Mr Williams was speaking in tongues,
1:05:55 > 1:06:00his body lurched forward as though... We were trying to describe it,
1:06:00 > 1:06:03it was, like, if you're on a bumpy road and you hit a bump and your
1:06:03 > 1:06:05body gets thrown forward, er...
1:06:05 > 1:06:09It happened about 15 times in quick succession, then it slowed,
1:06:09 > 1:06:13and then there are other times in our notes, where it appeared as
1:06:13 > 1:06:14though he was gasping.
1:06:14 > 1:06:21Uh, but it was clear he was, um, striving for breath.
1:06:21 > 1:06:24At 11:05, the coroner pronounced him dead.
1:06:24 > 1:06:29Having never witnessed an execution like this,
1:06:29 > 1:06:32to me, it looked like there was something wrong.
1:06:32 > 1:06:34Like it wasn't going smoothly.
1:06:36 > 1:06:40With the chest moving up and down, with the body movements,
1:06:40 > 1:06:43with the sound of his voice gasping for air,
1:06:43 > 1:06:46trying to breathe, it just didn't seem like that...
1:06:46 > 1:06:49That was not at all what I expected.
1:07:00 > 1:07:03Uh, the next individual to address the pool will be
1:07:03 > 1:07:06J R Davis, Communications Director for Governor Asa Hutchinson.
1:07:10 > 1:07:14Um, first of all, most of you, if you haven't received a statement
1:07:14 > 1:07:16from the governor, I can get that to you.
1:07:16 > 1:07:19It's a night of reflection for Arkansans,
1:07:19 > 1:07:25who should have a renewed faith in the judicial system in our state
1:07:25 > 1:07:28because that justice was carried out tonight.
1:07:28 > 1:07:31The other day, you described the executions so far as, "flawless".
1:07:31 > 1:07:35Do you think that description still fits, given what was described with
1:07:35 > 1:07:37- this execution?- I do.
1:07:37 > 1:07:39Basically, it's an involuntary muscular reaction,
1:07:39 > 1:07:43in the medical community it's widely known that that is an effect
1:07:43 > 1:07:45of Midazolam
1:07:45 > 1:07:48and no-one here has stated tonight that it looked like he was
1:07:48 > 1:07:49in pain of any sort.
1:07:50 > 1:07:53JR, are you concerned at all that he was potentially still conscious
1:07:53 > 1:07:57if there was heavy breathing when a paralytic was administered at 10:57?
1:07:57 > 1:08:02- I'm not.- I'm sorry, we just, we just heard vivid descriptions of an
1:08:02 > 1:08:06execution process that, that just by the words used,
1:08:06 > 1:08:12seemed anything but smooth and I, I just don't understand on what
1:08:12 > 1:08:16basis your, your statements draw any kind of credibility.
1:08:16 > 1:08:19I mean, all the words used to describe this execution make it
1:08:19 > 1:08:21sound like it didn't go smoothly.
1:08:21 > 1:08:25So, I don't know about the governor, but are you standing here listening to this description,
1:08:25 > 1:08:27troubled at all by what we were just told tonight?
1:08:27 > 1:08:30Again, I've told you, the governor is always, he always follows up on
1:08:30 > 1:08:32what happens but look, it's again,
1:08:32 > 1:08:35according to the medical community, this is not an unusual thing.
1:08:35 > 1:08:39So, would you like to come up here and testify to it?
1:08:39 > 1:08:41I'm answering your question to the best of my ability.
1:08:46 > 1:08:47Anything else?
1:08:50 > 1:08:52All right.
1:09:39 > 1:09:41All right, thank you.
1:10:00 > 1:10:03We can tell you that for now, this process,
1:10:03 > 1:10:07upon which the State of Arkansas embarked a few months ago,
1:10:07 > 1:10:10to execute eight inmates over the course of two weeks, is now over,
1:10:10 > 1:10:15and the final count stands at four men executed, four men's lives spared
1:10:15 > 1:10:19at least for now, and certainly into the foreseeable future, as the
1:10:19 > 1:10:22State of Arkansas wrestles with how to move forward with
1:10:22 > 1:10:25capital punishment in the state.
1:10:33 > 1:10:37Kenneth Williams was the fourth inmate out of eight whose scheduled
1:10:37 > 1:10:41executions were carried out. Now the ACLU are requesting an investigation
1:10:41 > 1:10:45into whether Williams was tortured by the state before he was killed,
1:10:45 > 1:10:47questioning the state's, quote,
1:10:47 > 1:10:51"rush to use up its supply of Midazolam before it expired."
1:11:00 > 1:11:05Good morning to you, everyone. I did want to reflect, for a moment,
1:11:05 > 1:11:08about the last two weeks.
1:11:08 > 1:11:13Uh, that after decades of waiting, the families of the victims were
1:11:13 > 1:11:16finally provided the justice that they were promised,
1:11:16 > 1:11:20and they also saw that our system of laws have meaning.
1:11:20 > 1:11:24And that last part is important as well.
1:11:24 > 1:11:28What exactly happened with Kenneth Williams' execution last night?
1:11:28 > 1:11:32Do you stand by your spokesman's statement that these executions were
1:11:32 > 1:11:36- flawless?- I went through what happened last night, with
1:11:36 > 1:11:40Director Kelley. This ten seconds of...
1:11:41 > 1:11:43..movement on his part, uh,
1:11:43 > 1:11:50was what was described as coughing without noise.
1:11:50 > 1:11:52The director told you he was coughing without noise?
1:11:52 > 1:11:55That's in direct contrast to what the media witnesses have described.
1:11:55 > 1:11:57Are you saying those witnesses were wrong?
1:11:57 > 1:12:02Uh, you, whenever... I've been a lawyer a long time and if you have
1:12:02 > 1:12:06five witnesses, uh, you're going to have five different descriptions.
1:12:06 > 1:12:10Director Kelley was the closest one to observe it and that's what she
1:12:10 > 1:12:12relayed to me, and that's what I accept.
1:12:12 > 1:12:15When would you feel comfortable having the state carry out executions again?
1:12:15 > 1:12:18You know, I really don't even want to think about it right now,
1:12:18 > 1:12:19quite frankly!
1:12:19 > 1:12:24But you know, if the Attorney General sends over names, we will start
1:12:24 > 1:12:29the process over again, in terms of dates, in terms of access to drugs.
1:12:29 > 1:12:32There's a number of others that, uh,
1:12:32 > 1:12:38are still waiting for justice and the verdicts of the jury have not
1:12:38 > 1:12:41been carried out. So, we will do that responsibility when it comes.
1:12:43 > 1:12:44All right, thank you very much.
1:13:54 > 1:13:57- Thanks for your patience. - Thank you so much for seeing us.
1:13:57 > 1:14:00- Thank you.- That's very kind of you. It was very nice to meet you and
1:14:00 > 1:14:02I hear you're running for re-election, is that right?
1:14:02 > 1:14:06- I am, I am.- Do you feel as though this experience will help with that?
1:14:06 > 1:14:08You know, er...
1:14:14 > 1:14:16HE CHUCKLES
1:14:16 > 1:14:19Right.
1:14:19 > 1:14:21OK.
1:14:21 > 1:14:22All right, lovely to meet you.
1:14:22 > 1:14:24Take care, thank you very much.