A Texas man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend died by deadly injection Wednesday night, marking the primary US execution of the 12 months.
Charles Victor Thompson, 55, was pronounced useless at 6:50 p.m. native time after receiving the injection on the Texas Division of Felony Justice’s Huntsville Unit.
He was discovered responsible within the April 1998 capturing deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Glenda Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, on the girl’s Houston-area condominium.
Earlier than the deadly dose was administered, Thompson requested the households of his victims for forgiveness, including that he hoped “you’ll be able to start to heal and transfer previous this.”
“There are not any winners on this state of affairs,” he stated after a religious adviser prayed over him, including that his execution “creates extra victims and traumatizes extra folks 28 years later.”
“I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry for what occurred, and I wish to inform all of y’all, I really like you and that … preserve Jesus in your life, preserve Jesus first,” he stated in his closing phrases.
Thompson gasped loudly because the injection started taking impact, in accordance with The Related Press, earlier than taking a couple of dozen breaths that become loud night breathing sounds. He then stopped transferring and was pronounced useless about 22 minutes later.
After witnessing the execution, Dennis Cain, whose son was killed by Thompson, stated, “He’s in hell.”
Harris County District Legal professional Sean Tear, whose workplace prosecuted the case, stated, “This chapter is closed.”
“It was justice a very long time coming,” he added.
On the night time of the murders, Thompson visited Hayslip’s condominium at 3 a.m. and acquired into an argument with Cain, in accordance with court docket information.
Thompson was instructed to go away the advanced after police have been known as, however returned three hours later and shot the couple.
Cain died on the scene, whereas Hayslip died one week later.
Thompson’s unique demise sentence was later overturned, however a jury once more sentenced him to die by deadly injection following a brand new punishment trial in November 2005.
Not lengthy after being resentenced, Thompson escaped from the Harris County Jail in Houston and spent three days on the run earlier than being caught.
He was arrested in Louisiana whereas making an attempt to arrange abroad wire transfers in an obvious try and flee to Canada.
About an hour earlier than the scheduled execution, the US Supreme Court docket issued a quick order rejecting a closing enchantment from Thompson.
Earlier this week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Thompson’s request to commute his demise sentence to a lesser penalty.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
