NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A man convicted of killing his girlfriend and her two young daughters in the 1980s said he was “hurting so bad” while he was given a lethal injection Tuesday in Tennessee, where authorities had refused to deactivate his implanted defibrillator despite claims it might cause unnecessary, painful shocks as the drugs were administered.
Black’s attorney said they will review data kept by the device as part of an autopsy.
Black died at 10:43 a.m., prison officials said. It was about 10 minutes after the execution started and Black talked about being in pain.
Asked for any last words, he replied, “No sir.”
Black looked around the room as the execution started, lifting his head off the gurney multiple times, and could be heard sighing and breathing heavily. All seven media witnesses to the execution agreed he appeared to be in discomfort. Throughout the execution, a spiritual adviser prayed and sang over Black, at one point touching his face.