Alabama Resumes Lethal Injections with Execution of Man for 2001 Beating Death

On Friday, Alabama executed a man for the 2001 beating death of a woman, marking the resumption of lethal injections after a review of execution procedures. James Barber, 64, was pronounced dead at 1:56 a.m. following a lethal injection administered at a south Alabama prison.

Barber had been convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal killing of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps. Prosecutors presented evidence that Barber, a handyman who knew Epps’ daughter, had confessed to the crime, stating that he killed Epps with a claw hammer before fleeing with her purse. The jury recommended a death sentence with an 11-1 vote, and the judge imposed the ruling.

Prior to his execution, Barber expressed love and apologies to both his family and the family of Dorothy Epps. He also forgave the governor and the individuals present in the room for their roles in his execution.

This execution was the first to be carried out in Alabama this year after a temporary halt due to difficulties inserting IVs into previous condemned inmates’ veins during lethal injections. These challenges led to the state’s decision to conduct an internal review of execution procedures, resulting in the resumption of executions.

Barber’s attorneys had sought to block the execution, arguing that the state had a history of failing to carry out lethal injections constitutionally. However, their request was denied by the Supreme Court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented from the decision, expressing concerns about Alabama’s approach to execution.

Barber’s final moments were spent with a spiritual adviser in the death chamber. As the administered drugs took effect, he closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually slowed until it ceased.

Hours before Barber’s execution, Oklahoma also executed another inmate, Jemaine Cannon, for a separate crime committed in 1995.

The recent legal battles have centered on Alabama’s ability to establish intravenous access for the execution process. The state implemented changes, including using different IV team members and extending the execution deadline from midnight to 6 a.m., to address these concerns.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stated that justice had been served with Barber’s execution, highlighting the gravity of his crime and its impact on Dorothy Epps’ family.

This update follows the news of Alabama’s planned execution of James Barber, which was the first lethal injection scheduled in the state since Governor Kay Ivey suspended executions for an internal review of the process in November.

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More about Lethal injections

• Alabama Executes Man for 2001 Beating Death
• Alabama Resumes Lethal Injections After Review
• Details of James Barber’s Execution and Apology
• Supreme Court Denies Request for Execution Stay
• Oklahoma Executes Jemaine Cannon