Clay King Smith, 30, Lethal Injection
William J. Meyerbeck
Associated Press Writer
VARNER, Ark. (AP) - The state executed a murderer Tuesday who said he
wouldn't appeal his sentence because it would bring more torment to the
families of his five victims.
Clay King Smith, 30, died for the 1998 killings of his ex-girlfriend, her
cousin and three children at Pine Bluff.
``I'd like to say I'm sorry about what I did to the victims' families,''
Smith said before his death. ``I hope your hearts can heal. I love my
family. I love my family.''
Smith had written to the families telling them he would not challenge his
death sentence if it would cause them more pain. With their permission, he
said, he would have fought for his life. Word from the families never came.
Smith had not filed any appeals with the federal court and did not ask Gov.
Mike Huckabee for clemency. He could have stopped his execution until the
last minute. Federal judges have previously granted automatic stays to
inmates who have not filed federal court challenges.
Brenda Bratton, the mother of one of the victims, told the Pine Bluff
Commercial newspaper that Smith had written to her and said, ``something
woke him up and told him to kill.''
Smith's execution was Arkansas' 24th since it resumed killing death row
inmates in 1990.
Bill Schenley
> cousin and three children at Pine Bluff.
At first, I thought the "1998" date was a misprint because if the murder
happened just three years ago, it would seem pretty quick for an execution.
http://www.geocities.com/brendabratton_2000/
. . . But it was just three years ago.
Not that there was any doubt as to guilt, but that was quick.
Burien Nightwing
CORRECTING THE HEADER
>Subject: Clay King Smith, 30, Lethal Injection
>From: "William J. Meyerbeck" meye...@softhome.nocrap2.net
>Date: 5/9/01 12:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time
>Message-id: <9dafqv$sc0$0...@pita.alt.net>
Louis Epstein
: In article <20010509031830...@ng-ma1.aol.com>,
: burienn...@aol.comX (Burien Nightwing) wrote:
:
: > CORRECTING THE HEADER
:
: Whatever you say, Buttwing.
:
: The murderer got what even HE knew he deserved.
:
: - TGS
But what you don't understand governments should NEVER dish out
deliberately.
mwitthoft
David Carson <da...@neosoft.com> wrote:
>On 09 May 2001 07:18:30 GMT, burienn...@aol.comX (Burien
Jon Nadelberg
>
> All humans are animals, but is a human who commits murder a "man" ?
>
I suppose if he's male he is.
--
See 1970s Disneyland!
http://home.pacbell.net/jonvn
