The Oklahoman has published an article about the state’s development of lethal injection for application of the death penalty.
Lethal Injection made its debut in Oklahoma 20 years ago
Art Cox, of the Enid News & Eagle, who witnessed it, described Coleman’s end as a “very easy death … a very cold death, very antiseptic.” Warden James Saffle said Coleman died quickly.
Joe Ward, an investigator for the public defender’s office who had come to know and like Coleman, perceived it differently.
“I saw him choke and gasp and struggle for air,” Ward said. “It looked like he was choking to death. He looked over … and mouthed the words, ‘I love you.’ Then he looked straight back up and started choking.”
He was pronounced dead at 12:35 a.m.
It was Sept. 10, 1990. Oklahoma had executed its first prisoner by lethal injection.
Tags: lethal injection
