Miami: The 54-year-old man convicted for the 1993 revenge killing is scheduled to be executed in Florida on Tuesday, marking the 26th execution in the United States this year-the highest number in a decade.
Michael Bell will receive a deadly injection at the Florida State Jail in Riford at 6:00 pm (2200 GMT) for the killings of Jimmy West, 23, and Tambaka Smith, 18, 18.
Florida has done seven execution this year, contributing to 25 national total. The execution of the vine will bring the US count to 26, since 2015 when the most performed 28 execution. Nine more execution are prescribed for the remaining of the year.
Bell was convicted in 1995 for the shooting of West and Smith outside the Jacksonville liquor shop. The court records show that he has avenged his brother, Lamar Bel’s murder, by the west’s half -brother, Theodore Wright months ago.
Despite presenting new evidence and recruiting testing testimony, Bell’s final appeal was rejected by the Florida Supreme Court, referring to the “heavy” evidence of his crime.
This year, 20 execution in the US has been conducted through deadly injections, by two firing squads, and by three nitrogen hypoxia – a method involving nitrogen gas breathing, condemned by United Nations experts as cruel and inhuman.
The death penalty remains legal in 27 American states, while 23 have abolished it. California, Oregon and Pennsylvania currently apply adjournment. Former President Donald Trump has advocated expanding capital punishment for serious crimes. – AFP
