Category Archives: executions

Abominations Masked by Secrecy

Willie Jerome Manning first came to the world’s attention because of an article by Clive Stafford Smith, who continues to speak out against the death penalty. Stafford Smith recently described the US death penalty as a dying dinosaur – destined for … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, capital punishment, criminal justice, death penalty, execution drugs, executions, Fly Manning, Injustice, innocence, lethal injection drugs, Mississippi, pharmaceutical companies, secrecy, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What we are doing is wrong

Of all the execution methods being considered in the Mississippi senate last week, it was the firing squad that was rejected; nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution are still being considered.  Discounting the firing squad is understandable, as Radley Balko explains: “We recoil … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, death penalty, executions, firing squad, human rights abuse, lethal injections, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Repressive Social and Racial Control

Two years ago the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the two murder convictions in Willie Manning’s second case, saying: “[T]he State violated his due-process rights when it failed to provide favorable, material evidence, upon request.” Willie was fortunate.  If exculpatory police canvass … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishment, criminal justice, death penalty, executions, Mississippi, racial control, social control, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Legal Challenges to Mississippi Executions

Lawsuits about the sedative used in Mississippi’s execution protocol are, thankfully, preventing the state from resuming executions.  Jim Craig, of the MacArthur Justice Center, represents three death row inmates who are challenging the use of midazolam as a sedative. They … Continue reading

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Midazolam: an Unsuitable Drug

While DNA testing and fingerprint comparison continue in Willie Manning’s case, other claims relevant to him are before the Mississippi Supreme Court. Two other death row inmates, Richard Jordan and Gerald Loden, continue to challenge attempts by the Mississippi Department … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, death penalty constitutionality, execution drugs, executions, Fly Manning, Injustice, lethal injection drugs, midazolam, Mississippi, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Critical Turning Point

Last week the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, announced it was prohibiting the use of its chemicals as execution drugs: thus was the US death penalty brought to a new juncture. As the human rights organisation, Reprieve, commented:   “This is a critical … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishmant, criminal justice, death peanlty, Death Row, execution drugs, executions, Fly Manning, lethal injections, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Three Setbacks and a Death

US Supreme Court Justice Scalia, who died last week at a luxury ranch in Texas, would have welcomed three recent setbacks for death penalty opponents in the administration of the death penalty in Mississippi. Last year, Justice Scalia joined the … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishmant, death peanlty, executions, Fly Manning, Justice Scalia, lethal injection drugs, Mississippi, secrecy, US Supreme Court, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Barbarity of Executions

There have been plenty of lockdowns for Willie Manning on Mississippi’s death row lately, but at least there have been no executions there since 2012. Jim Hood, the Attorney General, wants that to change. And if that means using nitrogen gas, … Continue reading

Posted in America, capital punishment, executions, Mississippi, torture, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Extremity of Torture

Richard Glossip came close to execution in Oklahoma twice last month. The first time, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a stay to allow his lawyers to submit new evidence; but his ensuing appeal was quickly rejected by … Continue reading

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Richard Glossip: Tenuous, Untrustworthy Evidence of Guilt

Richard Glossip is scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma on Wednesday (September 16, 2015). One of his current attorneys, Don Knight, has described his trial in marketing terms: “Basically, you’ve got prosecution trying to sell their product [Glossip’s responsibility for … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, death penalty, Death Row, executions, Fly Manning, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Richard Glossip, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment