Let’s remember the last time Washington state hanged its last inmate, on this day in 1994 (May 27)
Regardless of where you stand on capitol punishment, I think we can all agree it is morally wrong and should never, ever be used. That goes doubly so for hanging, which is a practice Washington state used for the final time 25 years ago today.
On May 27, 1994, the State of Washington conducts its last execution by hanging. Charles Rodman Campbell, age 39, is put to death for the 1982 murders of two women and a child. Campbell has a choice between hanging and lethal injection, but refuses to choose, so under existing state law hanging is used. A law passed in 1996 will make lethal injection the default for executing those condemned to death, unless the defendant chooses hanging, and three men will be executed by lethal injection between 1998 and 2010. In 2018 the Washington State Supreme Court will invalidate the state’s death penalty.
This sounds bad:
Campbell refused to cooperate with the execution. He had to be moved from his cell using pepper spray and he was hanged strapped to a board. It took prison officials 90 seconds to place a hood on his head and to fix the noose before the trap was opened. Death was instantaneous.
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