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Joe Nathan James Jr: Killer on death row took THREE HOURS to die, making it the longest execution in US history

Joe Nathan James Jr's execution time was set for 6 pm and at 9:10 pm he responded to a pinch on the arm by tilting his head
UPDATED AUG 16, 2022
Joe Nathan suffered three hours of pain as the officials could not insert an IV line as per a report by Reprieve US (Alabama Department of Corrections)
Joe Nathan suffered three hours of pain as the officials could not insert an IV line as per a report by Reprieve US (Alabama Department of Corrections)

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA: Joe Nathan James Jr, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1994 fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Faith Hall, 26, in Birmingham, was subjected to a three-hour-long execution making it the longest lethal injection process in US history. Despite Faith Hall's family's appeal that James should rather serve life in prison, the appeal was denied and the execution was given the go-ahead. 

According to a report by a human rights organization obtained by The Atlantic, the officials at the Atmore, Alabama, correctional facility took between three and three half hours to carry out James' execution. The examination carried out by Reprieve US revealed that William C Holman Correctional Facility set James' execution for 6 pm on July 28 and the media was barred from entering the facility till 8:57 pm. At 9:27 pm he was pronounced dead. The evaluation of the autopsy revealed that the officials tried for more than three hours to insert an IV line but were unsuccessful. Maya Foa, director of Reprieve US, said, "Subjecting a prisoner to three hours of pain and suffering is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment."

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Joe Nathan
Joe Nathan James Jr was subjected to three hours of pain during his execution as officials could not successfully insert an IV line (Alabama Department of Corrections)

Officials took more than 3 hours to execute Joe Nathan James Jr

When the officials were unable to insert an IV line, they opted for a cut-down procedure, leaving James to struggle and indefinite injuries on his hands and wrists. Foa continued, "States cannot continue to pretend that the abhorrent practice of lethal injection is in any way humane." Alabama state officials did not answer any questions regarding the three-hour delay in James' case. As per witnesses, there was a slight movement in James' arm until 9.05 pm followed by irregular breathing till a minute after. His breathing lasted till 9:10 pm when a consciousness check was performed and he responded to a pinch on the arm by tilting his head side-to-side. His death was then recorded at 9:27 pm.

Faith Hall's family urged the court to let Joe Nathan, the one to kill Hall, live. (Photo: @MAnotGinger/Twitter)
Faith Hall's family urged the court to let Joe Nathan live in prison (Twitter/@MAnotGinger)

But John Hamm, Alabama Department of Corrections commissioner, said in a statement, "There was nothing out of the ordinary. I can't over-emphasize this process. We're carrying out the ultimate punishment … and we have protocols and we are very deliberate in our process and making sure everything goes according to plan. So, if that takes a few minutes or a few hours, that's what we do." Talking about the execution, Foa said, "First, [it was] a torturous procedure behind closed doors, then a theatrical performance for witnesses."

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