CRUEL AND UNUSUAL

‘Bungled’ Arizona Execution Under Review

Inmate took two hours to die.

Lawyers for double-murderer Joseph Wood are demanding an outside review of what they call a terribly “bungled” execution. Wood took two hours to die from a lethal injection of unknown ingredients. An Arizona Republic reporter who watched the execution says Wood gasped for air 660 times before finally dying. Wood’s attorney, Dale Baich, calls it “the most prolonged bungled execution in recent history.” Corrections officials claim Wood was never in pain. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer was concerned over how long the procedure took, but said that justice had been done. She has ordered an internal review by prison officials—not the outside review that Wood’s lawyers demand.