The 20th Execution of 2025
The state of Alabama has executed Gregory Hunt by nitrogen hypoxia for the 1988 murder of Karen Lane, reported Montgomery Advertiser.
A doctor pronounced Hunt to dead at 6:26 p.m. June 10, 2025. His
death marked Alabama's third execution of the year.
Overall, Hunt is the fifth person to be executed by nitrogen
hypoxia in Alabama. The state executed its first inmate by nitrogen hypoxia in
2024. Across the globe, organizations, including the Vatican, have protested
the use of nitrogen hypoxia in execution, calling
it cruel and unusual punishment.
Execution timeline
In the execution chamber, there is a digital clock, but the
seconds are not visible. The following times are approximate.
5:52 p.m. The curtains to the death chamber were
opened. Hunt was wrapped in a white sheet and strapped to a gurney. A mask was
affixed to his face.
5:54 p.m. Hunt declined to give any last words. He made
what appeared to be a peace sign with his left hand.
5:56 p.m. Hunt began taking deep breaths.
5:57 p.m. He began gasping and lifted his head. His
entire body began convulsing.
5:59 p.m. Hunt turned his head and then lifted his
head. Hunt's head fell back, and he groaned loudly.
6 p.m. Hunt moved his head and gasped. He continued
intermittently gasping for the next several minutes.
6:04 p.m. Hunt appeared to take his last breath.
6:19 p.m. Hunt had remained still for the past 15
minutes. His left fist remained clenched. The curtains to the death chamber
were closed.
Victim's family: 'End of a nightmare'
John Hamm, the Alabama Department of Corrections
commissioner, defended nitrogen hypoxia as a humane way to execute people in
Alabama.
Hamm said that five of Lane's family members witnessed the
execution, and Hamm read a statement from her family.
"... Make no mistake, this night is not about the life
of Greg Hunt," the family said in the statement. "This night is about
the horrific death of Karen Sanders Lane, whose life was so savagely taken from
her. Karen was shown no mercy. She was not given a second chance. Karen was
shown no grace. This is also not about closure or victory. This night
represents justice and the end of a nightmare that has coursed through our
family for 37 long years."
Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall released
statements in support of Lane and her family.
“Decades ago, Karen Lane, at only 32 years old, experienced
unimaginable final hours of her young life," Gov. Kay Ivey said in a
statement. "Tonight, the state carried out the lawfully imposed punishment
for Gregory Hunt, who is undeniably guilty.
"And after his last-minute attempts to evade justice,
he has faced the consequences of his evil crimes against Karen Lane, actions he
has admitted to, even in a letter to the victim’s heartbroken father. Alabama
stands with Karen Lane, and we pray her loved ones can finally find peace and
closure.”
Marshall called Hunt's execution long overdue and expressed
his confidence in Hunt's guilt.
“Karen deserves more than silence," Marshall said in a
statement. "She deserves to be remembered for who she was, and yet some
have made this case about her killer, barely mentioning her name. That is not
justice. That is a disgrace. Karen Lane was a daughter and a sister. She was a
human being. And tonight, we honor her by speaking the truth and by refusing to
let it be buried under political theater.”
On the day of Hunt's execution, he was visited by two of his
attorneys. He ate a breakfast of biscuits, eggs, oatmeal and fruit punch and a
lunch of bologna, carrots, black-eyed peas, a roll, rice and gravy and fruit
punch. Hunt refused a dinner and did not request any special items.
He had no phone calls June 10 and had no witnesses to his
death.
More: James Osgood Execution Alabama executes James Osgood for 2010 rape and murder
The death of Karen Lane
Hunt beat Lane to death Aug. 2, 1988 in her home in Cordova.
He was charged with sexual abuse, burglary and capital murder.
Hunt admitted murdering Lane but denied that he sexually
abused her, even filing a final appeal May 23, claiming he did not sexually
abuse Lane. The appeal requested a stay in his execution to allow the court
time to process his argument.
Court documents show Hunt beat Lane with his hands, feet and
a bar stool. She had 62 individual external injuries to her body. Internally,
Lane had more than 20 fractures to her ribs and rib cage, a broken sternum, a
lacerated liver and injuries to her aorta.
She died of blunt force trauma and bruising of the brain.
To read more CLICK HERE
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment