The death penalty is one of the most controversial forms of punishment in the world. While many countries have abolished it, some continue to use it as a means of punishment for heinous crimes. However, in some cases, the execution is called off at the last minute, leaving the inmate with a second chance at life. In this article, we will take a look at some of the inmates who survived execution and had it called off.
One of the most famous cases of an inmate surviving an execution is that of Willie Francis. Francis was a 16-year-old African American who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by electric chair in Louisiana in 1946. However, the execution was botched, and Francis was left screaming in agony as he was being electrocuted. The execution was called off, and Francis was given a second chance at life. He was retried and sentenced to death again, but this time, he was executed without any mishaps.
Another well-known case is that of Romell Broom, who was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Ohio in 2009. However, the execution team was unable to find a suitable vein, and after multiple attempts, they called off the execution. Broom’s lawyers argued that attempting to execute him again would constitute cruel and unusual punishment, and his sentence was eventually commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In 1982, John Evans was scheduled to be executed by electric chair in Alabama. However, the chair malfunctioned, and Evans was left badly burned and still alive. The execution was called off, and Evans was given a second chance at life. He was retried and sentenced to death again, but this time, he was executed without any issues.
In some cases, the reason for the execution being called off is due to new evidence that comes to light. In 1976, Gary Gilmore was scheduled to be executed by firing squad in Utah. However, a stay of execution was granted after new evidence was discovered that could have exonerated Gilmore. The evidence was eventually dismissed, and Gilmore was executed by firing squad.
In conclusion, while the death penalty is a controversial form of punishment, it is important to recognize that mistakes can be made. In some cases, the execution is called off at the last minute, giving the inmate a second chance at life. These cases serve as a reminder that the justice system is fallible and that the death penalty should be used sparingly and with extreme caution.
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