A man who was sentenced to death for the murder of a woman during a gas station robbery in 1997 was executed this week, but the procedure did not go as planned.
Geoffrey Todd West, aged 50, underwent execution by nitrogen gas at the William C Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama. When asked for any final words by the prison warden, West simply replied, “no sir.” He was secured to a gurney and wore a blue-rimmed gas mask before signaling approval to his attorney as the execution commenced around 5:56 pm.
During the process, West seemed to struggle for breath, keeping his eyes open for two minutes. Reports indicated slight foaming at the mouth as he moved his head from side to side. By 6:07 pm, he became motionless and was officially pronounced dead at 6:22 pm.
West had been found guilty of the murder of Margaret Parrish Berry, a mother of two, who was fatally shot while lying on the gas station floor during the robbery on March 28th, 1997. Prosecutors alleged that Berry was killed to eliminate witnesses to the crime, with court documents revealing the theft of $250 from the station’s cash tin.
In a statement to the media, West expressed deep regret, stating that he wished he could undo his actions. He also privately apologized to Margaret’s family through his lawyer, acknowledging his gratitude for the forgiveness extended by her son, Will.
Will Berry, who was 11 years old at the time of his mother’s death, had petitioned Alabama’s governor to commute West’s sentence to life imprisonment, emphasizing forgiveness and a desire to spare West from execution. Despite this plea, the governor proceeded with the execution, citing justice for Margaret Parrish Berry’s tragic murder.
Reflecting on the execution, West’s legal team urged society to ponder the implications of capital punishment and the considerations of age and life circumstances in such cases. Will Berry expressed hope for West to find peace in his final moments, emphasizing that the criminal behavior was out of character based on accounts from West’s acquaintances.
The use of nitrogen hypoxia for execution was first introduced in Alabama last year and has since been utilized in seven executions. However, this method has faced significant criticism, with UN experts cautioning that it could constitute inhumane treatment or even torture. The experts reiterated their call for a ban on execution by nitrogen asphyxiation, highlighting its violation of international laws.