A death row inmate in Oklahoma ordered two cheeseburgers, two fish sandwiches, two large fries and a large soda for his final meal before his execution on Thursday morning.
James Coddington, 50, was sentenced to death for the murder of 73-year-old Albert Hale in 1997.
At the time of carrying out the crime, a then 24-year-old Coddington was battling a severe crack cocaine and alcohol addiction.
The inmate’s attorneys and advocates had hoped his remorse for Hale’s murder, his extremely traumatic upbringing and rehabilitation while on death row would save him.
Coddington had asked for his sentence to be commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with many people supporting him, including the state’s Pardon and Parole Board.
However, Governor Kevin Stitt declined his request for clemency, after reviewing both side’s arguments.
While strapped to a gurney inside the execution room, Coddington said: "To all my family and friends, lawyers, everyone who’s been around me and loved me, thank you. Gov. Stitt, I don’t blame you and I forgive you."
He then gave a thumbs up to his attorney, who could be seen crying in the witness room, and was pronounced dead at 10.16am after receiving the lethal injection.
Following Coddington’s execution, Albert’s son Mitchell Hall said his family was ready to 'close this chapter'.
Noting that Coddington didn’t express remorse for Albert’s murder in his final words, Hall said: "We can finally move on. It’s not going to heal anything, but it closes this chapter.
"He never apologised, he never mentioned my daddy, never mentioned my family. So, there was no true remorse."
Coddington is the first of 25 inmates the state of Oklahoma intends to put to death over the next 18months.
Last month, LADbible reported how another death row inmate in Oklahoma has had three 'final meals', due to his execution being scheduled three times.
However, Richard Glossip has finally had his execution date set, but his lawyers insist that there's newly uncovered evidence that will prove his innocence.
Glossip was sentenced to death in 2004 for allegedly hiring a hitman to murder his then-boss, Barry Van Treese, in 1997.
He was said to have hired a hitman, Justin Sneed - a 19-year-old who also worked at the motel - to do the job. Although he has strongly maintained his innocence.
While appealing against his conviction, Glossip's death has been scheduled three times and he's been given three 'final meals' - one of those meals was fish and chips, a Wendy's Baconator burger, and a strawberry milkshake.
However, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals have set a new date for his execution, which is set to take place on 22 September of this year, CNN reports.
His lawyers filed for a new appeal case on the same day the new date was announced, claiming that they had new evidence that would further prove Glossip's innocence.
There's also a campaign of people online who believe the death row inmate isn't guilty.
One such group is Save Richard Glossip, which argues that the man in question is completely innocent.
But detectives said they knew he did and didn’t act alone, and if he didn’t name his accomplice, he’d be left “holding the bag” for murder."
They then cite findings from the Reed Smith investigation into the case, which form the basis for Glossips new appeal.
Featured Image Credit: Oklahoma department of corrections/News9
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