About a dozen protesters had gathered outside Idaho's prison gates by 9 a.m., to protest the execution this morning of Richard Leavitt. “As citizens of this state, we are appalled that this killing is being done in our name,” Mia Crosthwaite of Idahoans Against the Death Penalty told the group, as they gathered in a circle to pray. More here. (Betsy Russell/Eye On Boise photo)
Update: Richard Leavitt has been executed. Time of death was 10:25 a.m. Tuesday/Statesman
An Idaho man convicted of brutally killing a woman nearly three decades ago and mutilating her body is set to be executed Tuesday, marking the first time witnesses will be allowed to watch the whole process of lethal injection in the state after a challenge by media organizations. Richard Albert Leavitt, who was convicted in 1985 of killing 31-year-old Danette Elg of Blackfoot, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection at 10 a.m. MDT Tuesday. Death row inmates in Idaho and nationwide have challenged lethal injection procedures in part by claiming that the insertion of the IVs can be easily botched, resulting in excruciating pain or other problems. But until now, witnesses in Idaho and several other states were barred from watching the first part of the procedure/Rebecca Boone, Statesman. More here.
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.
be executed Tuesday, marking the first time witnesses will be allowed to watch the whole process of lethal injection in the state after a challenge by media organizations. Richard Albert Leavitt, who was convicted in 1985 of killing 31-year-old Danette Elg of Blackfoot, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection at 10 a.m. MDT Tuesday. Death row inmates in Idaho and nationwide have challenged lethal injection procedures in part by claiming that the insertion of the IVs can be easily botched, resulting in excruciating pain or other problems. But until now, witnesses in Idaho and several other states were barred from watching the first part of the procedure/Rebecca Boone, Statesman. More here.
