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| Henry Jackson Jr. |
A Mississippi man who fatally stabbed four young nieces and nephews in a 1990 rampage has been executed, despite the pleas of two sisters to spare the brother who killed their children.
Authorities said 47-year-old Henry "Curtis" Jackson Jr. was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. local time Tuesday after receiving an injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.
The execution was carried out after the state's governor rejected a request by two of Jackson's sisters to spare him.
Court records show Jackson killed the children, ages 2 to 5, on Nov. 1, 1990, at his mother's home in the Delta region while she was at church, reportedly to take money from her safe.
One of Jackson's sisters, Regina Jackson, survived the attack and had pleaded for her brother's life.
Regina Jackson met with Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday to plead for mercy for her brother. She told the Associated Press she asked for his life because she “just can’t take any more killing.”
"As a mother who lost 2 babies, all I'm asking is that you not make me go through the killing of my brother," she wrote.
“I am deeply touched by the requests for clemency by two of his sisters and his brother-in-law. One of these sisters was a stabbing victim, and both of the sisters are mothers of the murdered children,” Bryant said. “However, as governor, I have the duty to see that justice is carried out and that the law is faithfully executed. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Officials reported Jackson was talkative, but somber, and he didn't seem to have much of an appetite.
He was offered breakfast and lunch today, but did not eat on either occasion. He also requested no last meal, but MDOC officials said they offered him the standard dinner before he is went to the execution chamber.
Jackson had access to a telephone to place unlimited collect calls to people on his approved telephone list, and yesterday made 3 phone calls to sister Regina Jackson and 1 each to daughter Monique Johnson and sisters Pearl Jackson and Glenda Kuyoro.
Jackson becomes the 4th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Mississippi and the 19th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1983.
Jackson becomes the 19th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1296th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.
Regina Jackson met with Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday to plead for mercy for her brother. She told the Associated Press she asked for his life because she “just can’t take any more killing.”
"As a mother who lost 2 babies, all I'm asking is that you not make me go through the killing of my brother," she wrote.
“I am deeply touched by the requests for clemency by two of his sisters and his brother-in-law. One of these sisters was a stabbing victim, and both of the sisters are mothers of the murdered children,” Bryant said. “However, as governor, I have the duty to see that justice is carried out and that the law is faithfully executed. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Officials reported Jackson was talkative, but somber, and he didn't seem to have much of an appetite.
He was offered breakfast and lunch today, but did not eat on either occasion. He also requested no last meal, but MDOC officials said they offered him the standard dinner before he is went to the execution chamber.
Jackson had access to a telephone to place unlimited collect calls to people on his approved telephone list, and yesterday made 3 phone calls to sister Regina Jackson and 1 each to daughter Monique Johnson and sisters Pearl Jackson and Glenda Kuyoro.
Jackson becomes the 4th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Mississippi and the 19th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1983.
Jackson becomes the 19th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1296th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.
Source: AP, Rick Halperin, June 5, 2012
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