Texas executes first inmate in 9 months; next execution scheduled for Tuesday

[PyrateJohn]

Texas executes first inmate in 9 months

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/06/texas-executes.html


Karl Eugene Chamberlain has become first Texas inmate executed in
nearly nine months. He was sentenced to death for the rape and
slaying
of a Dallas woman 17 years ago.


The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeal case about 30 minutes
before the 37-year-old Oklahoma native was scheduled to die, at 7:30
p.m. ET.


Here's some of The Associated Press description:


Karl Eugene Chamberlain addressed relatives of his victims with a
big smile on his face and stared directly at the son, parents and
brother of Felecia Prechtl as they stood just a few feet away from,
looking through a glass window.


"I want you all to know I love you with all my heart. I want to
thank you for being here," he said. Prechtl's son was 5 when he found
his mother's body in the bathroom of their apartment.


"We are here to honor the life of Felicia Prechtl, a woman I
didn't even know, and celebrate my death. I am so terribly sorry. I
wish I could die more than once."
Chamberlain said he understood if his victim's relatives would
like to hurt him more, but he wanted them to know it was his memories
of her and her life that contributed to his remorse.


"I love you. God have mercy on us all," he said as the drugs
began
taking effect. With a big smile still on his face, he blurted out
"please do not hate anybody because...." He was unable to finish as
he
slipped into unconsciousness. Nine minutes later at 6:30 p.m. CDT, he
was pronounced dead. ...


The state's next execution is scheduled for Tuesday.