Utah judge sets execution date in 1998 murder despite concerns over a new lethal injection cocktail
A Utah judge on Monday set an August date for the execution of a man convicted in the 1998 killing of a 49-year-old woman, siding against defense attorneys concerned about a new lethal injection drug combination.
A Utah judge on Monday set an August date for the execution of a man convicted in the 1998 killing of a 49-year-old woman, siding against defense attorneys concerned about a new lethal injection drug combination.
Taberon Dave Honie, 48, is set to be killed on Aug. 8 after decades of failed appeals. It’s the first public execution in Utah since Ronnie Lee Gardner was killed by firing squad in 2010, according to Utah Department of Corrections spokesperson Glen Mills.
Honie’s attorney Eric Zuckerman said during a Monday court hearing that state officials only told the defense about the “experimental” drug combination on Friday, which he said didn’t leave adequate time to assess the drugs and allow Honie to make an informed decision.
Two of the three drugs proposed for Honie’s execution — the pain reliever fentanyl and potassium chloride to stop the heart — have been used previously, Mills said. But a third proposed drug, the sedative ketamine, has not been used before to Mills’ knowledge.
“The state has not provided any details about this novel procedure, including the drug doses. And the state says it will not revise its written procedures, making it the only jurisdiction to move forward with an execution without accurate written procedures,” Zuckerman said in a statement after the hearing. He asked for more information and time to consult with medical experts.
Rating: 5