Florida Executes Inmate Who Killed Cellmate; Governor Had Withdrawn Another Death Warrant for First Time
Fox News and other outlets reported on October 13-14 that Florida executed death row inmate James Robertson at Florida State Prison on October 13. Robertson killed his cellmate, Hart, in prison; the victim's daughter, Rebecca Hart, spoke to reporters outside the prison. Hart was killed eight days before he was set to be released, according to the reports.
Robertson was sent to prison in 1980 at age 17 for burglary and assault, and additional convictions for escape, battery and weapons offenses extended his sentence. He killed his cellmate in an effort to receive the death penalty, the reports said.
Florida had initially scheduled two executions that day, but Governor Ron DeSantis last week withdrew the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, the first time he has withdrawn a death warrant. Thompson was sentenced to death for the 1976 kidnapping and killing of 23-year-old Sally Ivester. DeSantis did not provide a reason for the withdrawal; he had previously stayed the execution pending a psychiatric evaluation, and Thompson's attorneys say he has dementia and failing health and want him transferred to a medical facility.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 塔拉哈西佛罗里达州旧议会大厦圆顶实景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，DXR 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0 授权
