Willie B. Smith III Put to Death for 1991 Killing of Woman
An Alabama man who avoided execution in February has been put to death for the 1991 killing of a woman abducted during a robbery and then shot in a cemetery.
Willie B. Smith III
Judge Denies Request to Block Lethal Injection in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has declined to block an execution scheduled this week in Alabama. U.S. Chief District Judge Emily Marks has denied a request for a preliminary injunction, which was sought by lawyers for Willie B. Smith III. Smith is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday for the 1991 kidnapping and murder of Sharma Ruth…
Mental Capacity at Issue as Alabama an Faces Execution Date
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Federal judges have heard arguments over whether an Alabama inmate had the mental capacity to understand paperwork setting up his planned execution next week. Willie B. Smith III is set to receive a lethal injection Oct. 21 for the 1991 kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Sharma Ruth Johnson in Birmingham. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of…
Alabama Sets New Execution Date for Inmate for 1991 Murder
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has rescheduled the execution of a state inmate who had a lethal injection called off in February when the U.S. Supreme Court sided with his request to have his personal pastor with him in the death chamber. The Alabama Supreme Court set an Oct. 21 execution date for 51-year-old Willie B. Smith III, who was…
Religion and the Death Penalty Collide at the Supreme Court
(Alabama Department of Corrections via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is sending a message to states that want to continue to carry out the death penalty. Inmates must be allowed to have a spiritual adviser by their side as they are executed. The high court around midnight Thursday declined to let Alabama proceed with the lethal injection of…
First Execution of the Year has Been Canceled
Willie B. Smith ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama inmate on Thursday won a reprieve from a scheduled lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court said the state must allow his personal pastor in the death chamber. The lethal injection of Willie B. Smith III was called off by Alabama after justices maintained an injunction issued by the 11th U.S….
