Wednesday, November 05, 2003

GEORGIA LAST MEAL
JAMES BROWN
November 4, 2003


I feel not-so-good...

Last Meal: Brown ate all of his last meal, a foot-long chili dog with everything, French fries, a dill pickle, strawberry ice cream and a 7-Up.

The skinny: Brown was executed for raping a topless dancer while she suffocated on her panties.. James Willie Brown killed the woman 28 years ago after the two met for a steak dinner and a night of dancing. He later tied her up, raped her and left her dead body near a trash pile.

Past Legal machinations: Browns guilt was not in doubt, but his lawyers argued he was insane and should have been resentenced to life in prison without parole. Upon Brown's arrest, he at first denied even knowing the woman, but later admitted to the rape and murder. After being found incompetent to stand trial, Brown was committed to a state mental institution until 1981 when he was found competent, convicted, and sentenced to death. In 1988, a federal court overturned the conviction due to questions about his mental competency. In 1991 Brown was retried and again convicted and sentenced to death. Brown had repeatedly avoided being killed by the state he had been sentenced to death twice, and a judge canceled his execution in November 2002 a few hours before it was to take place.

Last words and such: Brown made no comment before his lethal injection.

When asked whether he wanted to make a final statement or prayer, Brown merely shook his head and said no.

He died alone except for government and media witnesses --none of his attorneys showed up.

A group of eight protesters held a candlelight vigil at the prison entrance Tuesday night.

Factoids: The victim's last meal was a takeout dinner of steak and potatoes.

Brown's brother once described his brother as "the devil's son.".

Brown was the...

59th murderer executed in U.S. in 2003
879th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
3rd murderer executed in Georgia in 2003
34th murderer executed in Georgia since 1976