Convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner executed by firing squad

Fox

DRAPER, Utah, 18 June 2010: Convicted killer Ronnie Lee Gardner has been pronounced dead after he was executed by firing squad shortly after midnight. When asked if he had any last words, Gardner said: "I do not, no." A hood was placed over the murderer’s head and a physician attached a Velcro target to his chest in front of his heart. At 12:15 a.m. A five-person firing squad, four using live rounds and one using a blank, took aim at the target on Gardner’s chest. A person leading the squad asked them "Are you ready?" before counting down from five. As had been decided beforehand, shots were fired as the number two was beginning to be pronounced.

 

 

His body tensed. His fingers still moved. His arm raised and lowered again and again. Some thought he was still alive. The medical examiner checked for a pulse. He checked Gardner’s eyes. His mouth was open. He was ashen. A small pool of blood gathered at his waist. Gardner was pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m.

Prior to his execution, Gardner had been moved to an observation cell adjacent to the death chamber, the place where he spent his final moments Thursday into Friday morning. Just before the execution, Gardner walked 90 feet from the observation cell to the death chamber at the Utah State Prison.

Officials said Gardner had his last meal Wednesday, which consisted of a lobster tail, steak, apple pie, ice cream and a 7-Up and is now going through a self imposed 48-hour fast leading up to his execution.

Gardner had his last meeting with family members at the prison Wednesday night. The prison has invited witnesses from the government, the families of the victims, Gardner’s family and the media to attend the execution.

Gardner has chosen to die by firing squad for killing attorney Michael Burdell during a 1985 courthouse escape attempt. He was in court for the murder of Melvyn Otterstrom during a robbery. On his way out of the courthouse, Gardner also shot and wounded deputy Nick Kirk, who died years later. Kirk’s widow believes the gunshot wounds eventually killed her husband.

Throughout the legal proceedings leading up to the execution, the families of Gardner’s victims have been divided on the issue of the death penalty. Burdell’s fiancée, Donna Nu, said she opposes executing him; the Otterstrom and Kirk families want Gardner put to death.

The debate over the method of execution has sparked international interest. News media from across the globe are expected to arrive at the Utah State Prison to cover the execution. Utah officially did away with the firing squad as a method of execution in 2004, but several inmates are "grandfathered in."

The execution is also drawing protests. The group Utahns for Alternatives to the Death Penalty held a prayer vigil at St. Mark’s Cathedral at 5:30 p.m., then a rally was held at the state capitol at 9 p.m.