CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Current Case Studies

Case Studies Saddam Hussein Romell Broom

Saddam Hussein As president of Iraq, Saddam maintained power during the Iran–Iraq War of 1980 through 1988, and throughout the Persian Gulf War of 1991. During these conflicts, Saddam suppressed several movements, particularly Shi'a and Kurdish movements seeking to overthrow the government or gain independence, respectively.

Saddam Hussein By 2003, the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush had convinced the public that Saddam remained sufficiently relevant and dangerous to be overthrown. In March of that year, the U.S. and its allies invaded Iraq, eventually deposing Saddam.

Saddam Hussein Hussein was captured by U.S. forces on 13 December 2003, Saddam was brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government set up by U.S.-led forces. He was accused of crimes against humanity.

The torture and deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s. These were victims of a poison gas attack on Halabja, 1988.

Kurds facing death by government firing squads.

Conviction On 5 November 2006, he was convicted of charges related to the 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi'ites suspected of planning an assassination attempt against him, and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam was hanged on the first day of Eid ul-Adha, 30 December 2006, despite his wish to be shot (which he felt would be more dignified).

Controversy The execution was videotaped on a mobile phone, showing Saddam being taunted before his hanging, and he and his captors insulting each other. The video was leaked to electronic media and posted on the Internet within hours, becoming the subject of global controversy.

Saddam Hussein: what do you think? Public/Private? Humane? Acceptable as a form of punishment?

Romell Broom Romell Broom has been sentenced to die for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Tryna Middleton in 1984.

Romell Broom Romell Broom was to be executed at 10 AM on Tuesday, September 15 2009, in Ohio.  The execution was delayed as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit considered granting him a hearing.  When that temporary stay was lifted, the execution process began again with a searching for a suitable vein in Broom's arm to insert an IV and to inject the lethal chemicals.

However, after two hours of fruitless endeavour, the correctional officers were unable to complete the execution.  Governor Ted Strickland intervened and granted a week-long stay of execution while the state evaluates its procedures.  Ohio has had a series of problems with its lethal injection process.

Issues raised This case raises a series of constitutional and ethical issues including: whether present standards of decency would reject subjecting a person to repeated attempts at execution whether the lethal injection process requires medical participation to avoid being cruel and unusual punishment whether the process being attempted in Ohio and elsewhere amounts to human experimentation and torture.

Chronology of a failed execution Tuesday 15th September 5:08 a.m.: Broom awakens for the day. 5:51 a.m.: Broom is escorted to the shower. 6:27 a.m.: Broom eats breakfast of cereal. 8:07 a.m.: The chemicals used in Ohio executions -- thiopental sodium, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride -- are delivered to the death house. 9:31 a.m.: Execution preparations put on hold while the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs a last-minute appeal request. 12:28 p.m.: Broom eats a lunch of creamed chicken, biscuits, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and grape drink. 12:48 p.m.: The 6th Circuit says it will not review the appeal. Execution scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Chronology of a failed execution 1:24 p.m.: First round of lethal drugs is destroyed. 1:31 p.m.: Replacement drugs are delivered to the death house. 2:01 p.m.: Medical team enters holding cell and begins trying to insert IVs. 2:30 p.m.: Unable to find a usable vein, team leaves the cell to take a break. 2:42 p.m.: Team members back in cell trying again. 2:44 p.m.: Prisons director Terry Collins tells the medical team to take another break. 2:49 p.m.: Broom wipes his face with a tissue, appears to be crying. 2:57 p.m.: Broom asks that his attorney, Adele Shank, be allowed to watch. Around 3 p.m.: Tim Sweeney, a Cleveland attorney also representing Broom, sends a letter to Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer asking the court to stop the execution on the grounds that Broom is suffering cruel and unusual punishment.

Watch this space…