Death Row Inmate Uses Final Words To Apologise For His Crimes

A triple killer used his final words to beg for forgiveness before being given the lethal injection at an Arkansas prison.

Kenneth Williams, 38, was sentenced to death for killing two people after escaping from prison, where he was serving a life sentence for a previous murder.

In a statement read out while he was in the death chamber, he said: "I extend my sincerest of apologies to the families I have senselessly wronged and deprived of their loved ones.

Credit: PA

"I was more than wrong. The crimes I perpetrated against you all was senseless, extremely hurtful and inexcusable."

Williams had a massive final meal including fried chicken, barbecue beans, rice, corn, stewed tomatoes and four slices of bread, as well as two cinnamon rolls, two cookies and fruit punch. He also for a Holy Communion to take place.

He took 13 minutes to die, according to local media reports, and convulsed around 20 times. NBC News reported the 'horrifying execution', which saw Williams 'coughing, convulsing, lurching and jerking'.

Kenneth Williams was executed on Thursday night. Credit: PA

Williams was one of four inmates executed within eight days in Arkansas, in so-called conveyor-belt executions. Two executions were halted in the state, after eight inmates were scheduled to be executed in just 11 days. Arkansas had not held an execution for 12 years prior to this.

The state had decided on a sped-up schedule after it was found that one of the drugs in its lethal injection, a sedative called midazolam, expires at the end of April.

Critics said rushing the executions was reckless and against the constitution.

Credit: PA

Williams was the last of the four inmates in the 'conveyor belt' to be put to death.

He had been serving a life sentence for the killing of a cheerleader in 1998; however, he escaped from prison by hiding inside a barrel of pig swill.

While on the run he shot and killed a man and stole his truck. He was then involved in a high-speed police chase, which resulted in a crash and the death of another man. A jury sentenced Williams to death.

Source: NBC News, and Huffington Post

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Death Penalty

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19