Governor Crist’s First Execution
July 1st, 2008 by flanewsThe clock is ticking for a convicted murderer set to be the first prisoner executed in Florida since 2006. Mark Schwab is set to be executed at 6 O’clock tonight. Schwab was sentenced to death for raping and murdering an 11 year old boy. Executions were put on hold after a botched execution in 2006 took twice as long as normal. Since then new procedures were put in place and the execution chamber was redesigned. This will be Charlie Crist’s first execution as Governor. Crist says he wants the process sped up.
“There’s an old adage in law that Justice delayed is justice denied and I believe that and I’m very sympathetic to the family members of those who have had family members taken from us, murdered and I feel for them that they have to wait so long to have finality or closure,” said Crist.
Attorney General Bill McCollum says he’s not looking forward to Schwab’s execution, but says justice has to be served.
“No one looks forward to these things it’s not something we’re happy about but it’s justice,” said McCollum.
The Governor, the Attorney General, and the Supreme Court Chief Justice will be on a conference call tonight with the supervising warden while the execution occurs.
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