Family of Oklahoma Inmate Killed in Botched Execution May Sue State

LaDonna Hollins condemned the Tuesday procedure that left her stepson, Clayton Lockett, writhing and groaning in the execution chamber before he was declared dead of a heart attack, 10 minutes after the execution was officially called off.

"We are not to torture people to death," Hollins told the Guardian. "Not thrashing and convulsing. That makes them no better than the murder he committed. That makes us in Oklahoma look like savages. Come on, America. Look at this."

Lockett was convicted of kidnapping and shooting 19-year-old Stephanie Neiman, as part of a 1999 home invasion. She survived the initial assault; Lockett ordered two accomplices to bury her alive. He also raped one of her friends. He was convicted in 2000 and sentenced to death. His accomplices are serving life sentences, The Guardian reported.

Neiman had graduated from high school only two weeks before her death. Her parents, Steve and Susie Neiman, supported his sentence. After his death on Tuesday the Neimans issued a statement, saying: “We are thankful this day has finally arrived and justice will finally be served.”

Hollins, 56, said she wishes closure for Neiman’s family.

"Let's not forget they also suffered," she said. "I would never forget that."

"Clayton was upset about the life he took and no matter how much he apologizes … he could not take that back.”

Hollins, who said she raised Lockett, spoke to him on Sunday. He was worried about the drugs that would be used in his execution and upset that the state supreme court had lifted his stay of execution. He made plans for his burial.

Hollins spoke as fallout from the botched execution spread to the highest levels of the US government. President Barack Obama said on Friday that the manner of Lockett's execution was "deeply troubling" and that he had asked the attorney general, Eric Holder, to provide a review of the issues raised by it.

"I do think as a society we have to ask ourselves some difficult questions," he said.

A timeline published by the state of Oklahoma on Thursday showed that medical staff could not find a suitable vein on any of Lockett's limbs in which to inject the lethal drugs intended to kill him, and had to use his groin instead, which they covered to prevent it being seen by witnesses.

The intravenous line into Lockett's groin failed, but the failure was not picked up for 21 minutes after the sheet was pulled back. The Guardian was among witnesses who watched as, for three minutes, Lockett fought against his restraints and attempted to speak, despite having been officially declared unconscious.

When the IV failure was eventually discovered, it was found that the lethal drugs might not have entered Lockett's body correctly.

Lockett eventually died, apparently of a massive heart attack, an hour and 44 minutes after first being strapped to the gurney and 10 minutes after the execution was officially called off.