Clayton Lockett was scheduled to be executed and following the administering of the drugs, he "struggled violently, groaned, and writhed ." It is believed that a vein failure prevented the drugs from completely entering Lockett's system. After suffering he eventually died of a heart attack. The scene was so disturbing that a curtain was closed blocking the view of witnesses there for the execution.
Lawyers for Lockett are now claiming that the execution and perhaps even all executions are a violation of the 8th Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment. How one defines "cruel and unusual" can widely vary and this promises to be a difficult legal battle.
Further executions in Oklahoma have been temporarily postponed pending a complete investigation of the incident.
Thoughts?