Arkansas prisoner ‘gurgled and snored’ during his execution after it took 40 minutes to insert IV lines

Arkansas prison officials have defended how it carried out a double execution as part of an aggressive push to kill eight inmates over 11 days before the lethal injection drugs expire.

The double execution, the first in the US in more than 16 years, saw convicted killers Jack Jones and Marcel Williams put to death.

Jones’ death sparked controversy after the prisoner’s spiritual adviser said the 52-year-old was ‘sort of gurgling’ after being administered the drugs, before he eventually started snoring like he was in a ‘deep, deep sleep’.

Jeff Rosenzweig, a lawyer who death row inmates, later told federal judge Jones’ mouth moved several times during the execution.

The comments were made during a conference call in which lawyers representing Williams attempted to have his killing delayed.

US District Judge Kristine Baker did not grant a delay and the execution went ahead as scheduled.

It was originally reported prison officials spent 40 minutes placing IV lines in 46-year-old. It had been argued his weight of 400 pounds could complicate the execution procedure.

The internal affairs log stated Williams was restrained in the death chamber at 9:30pm. It goes on to state officials began the process of inserting IV lines at 9:35 pm and it wasn’t complete until 10:15pm. Witnesses were not allowed to view this part of the process.

Williams was pronounced dead at 10:33pm.

And a transcript from the call between lawyers and Baker has now revealed the court deemed there was no evidence to support the procedure going poorly.

‘Based upon what the court has learned from the eyewitnesses in regard to the execution, the court finds no support for a claim and an allegation that the execution appeared to be torturous and inhumane,’ Baker said, according to the transcript.

Later on Wednesday, a new document stated officials spent less than 10 minutes inserting IV lines into Jones on Monday night.

IVs are placed before the curtains are lifted in the death chamber, so witnesses are not allowed to see that part of the process.

The log provided very few details about Jones’ execution beyond the start and end times, including whether he showed any signs of distress.

It comes as the Arkansas Supreme Court refused to stay the execution of a man scheduled to be killed on Thursday…

Source: Witness describes inmate ‘gurgling’ during execution | Daily Mail Online