A Honduran man was put to death in the United States by lethal injection early yesterday despite a last-ditch appeal by the President of Honduras, prison officials said.
Arizona prison officials said Jose Roberto Villafuerte (45), convicted for the 1983 murder of his girlfriend, died by lethal injection at 3.18 a.m. local time (8.18 Irish time) while strapped to a table at the state prison complex south-east of Phoenix.
Witnesses reported that Villafuerte showed no remorse, saying that he "loved everybody," and telling his victim's son that he would "be with the Lord". He maintained his innocence to the end.
Villafuerte was sentenced to die for murdering Amelia Schoville (47), whom prosecutors said was viciously beaten, tied up and later died. His execution came after a flurry of last-minute activity that included an unprecedented meeting by a state panel that rules on such cases.
But the board of executive clemency voted 4-1 to reject his appeal after hearing a plea by President Carlos Fuerte of Honduras by telephone. The Vatican also asked for clemency in a letter to the board, officials said.
Villafuerte's case marked the second time in eight days that a foreigner was executed in the US despite opposition by the countries involved.
A Paraguayan national, Angel Francisco Breard (32), was executed last week by lethal injection in Virginia for the 1992 murder of a woman.
Villafuerte had appealed based in part on the fact that the Honduran consul was not notified when he was arrested.
On Tuesday, Honduran officials unsuccessfully pressed their request that the execution be halted because state officials ignored an international treaty.
The US State Department acknowledged in a letter that Arizona officials did violate the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However, the letter, released on Tuesday, did not urge that the execution be stopped.
Villafuerte, whose victim died from asphyxiation after she was bound and gagged in his Phoenix trailer, also sought reconsideration based on a new witness.
His execution stirred concern about a backlash, prompting the US embassy in Honduras to seek and receive protection on Tuesday from riot police.
Chants of "Gringo trash, get out of Honduras" were heard outside the embassy as about 100 women staged a peaceful demonstration before the execution. Villafuerte spent his last hours in a meeting with Honduran officials and his attorney. His final meal was broiled chicken, corn tortillas, tomatoes, jalapenos, rice and soda.
Earlier, in Potosi, Missouri, a man convicted of killing a Missouri state trooper more than 10 years ago was executed by lethal injection moments after repeating his innocence.
"I didn't shoot the trooper. This is injustice, but I forgive everybody and stay strong," said Glennon Paul Sweet (41) just before he was executed, a prison spokesman said.
Sweet was declared dead at 1.05 a.m. local time (6.05 Irish time) by officials at the Potosi Correctional Centre. He was convicted in 1988 of killing Trooper Russell Harper with an assault rifle.
His motion for a stay of execution was denied by the Missouri supreme court last Friday, and his appeal was turned down by the US Supreme Court just hours before the lethal injection was administered.
Prison officials allowed Sweet to take part in a "smudging", a Native American ceremony, before the execution, but denied his request for a more formal ceremony. In "smudging" sage and sweet grass are burned and the smoke whisked over the participant with an eagle feather.
A number of religious leaders, including Pope John Paul, had sought clemency for Sweet over the years.