Convicted murderer Troy Anthony Davis was administered a lethal injection and died at 11.08pm ET (1.08pm AEST). Picture: File Source: AFP
- Troy Davis executed after last court appeal fails
- Maintains innocence in last words to victim's family
- Tells family to "look deeper into the case" for truth
CONVICTED murderer Troy Anthony Davis was put to death in Georgia today after a number of last-ditch appeals to prevent his execution failed, in a case that captured attention worldwide.
Davis, who was sentenced to death for the 1989 killing of an off-duty Savannah police officer, was administered a lethal injection and died at 11.08pm ET (1.08pm AEST).
An unusually lengthy deliberation by the US Supreme Court delayed the process by more than four hours.
The Supreme Court had earlier denied a stay of execution for Davis, clearing the way for his execution.
Davis, 42, was defiant until the end and maintained his innocence, journalists who witnessed the execution said.
Before the injection was administered he lifted his head - while strapped to a gurney - and said he wanted to address the family of the slain officer, who were present in the front row of the gallery.
Describing the process as going "very quietly", official media witness Jon Lewis said Davis stressed his innocence once more.
Addressing MacPhail's family, Davis "said he was sorry for their loss but he did not take their son, father, brother."
He said he did not have a gun at the time of MacPhail's death and urged further investigation.
Davis asked the family to "look deeper into this case so you can really find the truth," before telling the officers administering the lethal injection: "May God have mercy on your souls and may God bless your souls."
Earlier in the day, his defence team had asked for a stay of execution from the US Supreme Court, the Georgia Supreme Court and Butts County Superior Court, arguing that the ballistics testing that linked Davis to the crime was flawed.
In its brief one-line decision, the Supreme Court - the last to deny the request - said today: "The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied."
Davis, who had been spared the death penalty three times before, saw his legal hopes dwindle yesterday when the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole denied a request to reconsider clemency.
Authorities also denied a request to have the inmate take a polygraph test to prove his innocence.
At 4pm local time, Davis was given a last meal of a cheeseburger, potatoes and slaw - the same as what was served other inmates - but he did not eat it, a prison spokeswoman told The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Davis also refused to issue a final statement.
Davis was convicted for the 1989 murder of off-duty Savannah police officer and former Army Ranger MacPhail, who was shot in a Burger King carpark.
Since Davis' conviction, seven of nine witnesses had changed or recanted their testimony. No physical evidence linked him to the crime and his case picked up attention across the globe.
"Troy Davis has impacted the world," his sister Martina Correia said at a news conference. "They say, 'I am Troy Davis,' in languages he can't speak."
Amnesty International, which had provided legal aide to Davis, organised a vigil across the street from the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification prison where the execution was to take place.
About 200 people protested outside the Jackson, Georgia centre and riot police were called in as a precaution.
"This is an outrage. No one can execute a man with no physical evidence," said Reverend Al Sharpton, who was leading one demonstration.
Prosecutors steadfastly maintained that Davis was guilty and they point out that subsequent judges have refused to overturn his conviction.
MacPhail's family also said they have no doubt about Davis' guilt and said they supported his death sentence, the Journal Constitution reported.
"There is no doubt in my mind," MacPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail, said when asked if she thought Davis was guilty. "I guess justice will be done and that's what we were fighting for," she said.
After learning of the US Supreme Court's decision to block a stay, she said it was now time for Davis to sleep in the bed he had made for himself.
"I want it over with. We are waiting to accept that decision that was made by the court and I would like some peace now," she told CNN host Anderson Cooper.
Reverend Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, was denied a chance to see the condemned inmate today, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Reverend Warnock has visited Davis in the past.
"We did not get a chance to see Troy," Reverend Warnock said. "We reached out to the warden and the [Corrections] commissioner to no avail. We didn't get an explanation [why it was denied]. We wanted to do a pastoral visit, to offer comfort and last rights if you will, to pray. It's another insult to this injustice," he told the newspaper.
- with Agence-France Presse
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