Death row inmate sues after ‘botched’ execution

Story highlights A death row inmate whose execution was "botched and bloody" is asking not to be put to death His attorneys cite cruel and unusual punishment and double jeopardy in court filings CNN — An Alabama death row inmate whose execution went wrong is asking that his death sentence be vacated. In two civil actions filed Wednesdaywith the Alabama US District Court and the state circuit court, Hamm maintains that the execution was called off after “hours of physical and psychological torture, forcing needles into his lower extremities” and the right femoral vein near his groin, “causing severe bleeding and pain.” The doctor found 11 puncture wounds on Hamm's body. Bernard Harcourt Hamm’s defense team is asking for relief from his “now unconstitutional sentence of death.” They claim that the painful procedure, during which their client wished he could die, was cruel and unusual punishment and a “constitutionally prohibited cruel, unnecessarily painful, slow, and lingering process to death.” They also claim that attempting a second execution would be double jeopardy, protected by the Fifth Amendment, which states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” 11 puncture wounds Hamm’s court filings state that the execution team made numerous attempts to gain access to veins in his legs and ankles. “Multiple times, the execution team tried to insert a needle or catheter into Doyle Hamm’s right groin, causing severe bleeding and pain,” the filings state. “ ‘Oral lethal injection’ was requested Hamm’s defense team states in the court filings that the inmate is struggling with “active lymphatic cancer” that has created abnormal lymph nodes, including in his groin.