Execution for man condemned by 'bible jury'
Death sentence on Texan man carried out despite claims jurors at his trial quoted Bible during deliberations (Krish Mistry Photography)
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By Matthew Champion.
The death sentence on a Texan man has been carried out despite claims jurors at his trial quoted the Bible during their deliberations.
Khristian Oliver was executed by lethal injection last night over the murder of a man whose home he was trying to burgle in 1997.
The 32-year-old, who took eight minutes to die, was "very calm" at his execution, having spoken to the family of his victim, 64-year-old Joe Collins, and his own parents.
Oliver, execution number 999.301 in the Texas department of criminal justice records, said he had prayed for the Collins family but that his execution would not bring closure. He told his parents he loved them.
Human rights groups had expressed deep concern at Oliver's impending execution, the 20th in Texas this year, after post-trial interviews showed jurors had consulted and quoted from the Bible in their deliberations.
Amnesty International UK said "serious questions" must be raised about the impartiality of jurors quoting scripture in reaching their decision.
Amnesty had learned from four jurors that several Bibles were present in the jury room, with passages highlighted and passed between them.
One juror even stood up to quote the text directly, saying: "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."
Amnesty International said the execution of Oliver, who was convicted of using a rifle to beat Mr Collins to death, was "depressing news".
Texas is one of 35 states to retain the death penalty in the US, where 37 people were executed last year; putting the country behind only China, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Since 1976 the US has executed 1,175 people, while 138 people have been exonerated while on death row since 1973.
There are currently 358 inmates, including ten women, awaiting execution in Texas.