Michael Sexton was executed by the State of North Carolina for the murder of Kimberly Crews
According to court documents Michael Sexton would kidnap Kimberly Crews in a hospital parking lot. The woman was driven to a remote location where she was sexually assaulted and murdered
Michael Sexton would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Michael Sexton would be executed by lethal injection on November 9 2000
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When Was Michael Sexton Executed
Michael Sexton was executed on November 9 2000
Michael Sexton Case
North Carolina executed a death-row prisoner early Thursday for the 1990 rape and murder of a Wake County hospital counselor. Michael Earl Sexton, 34, was pronounced dead at 2:34 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at Raleigh’s Central Prison, said Tracy Little, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Correction.
Sexton died about 8 hours after Gov. Jim Hunt and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected pleas from Sexton’s lawyers to stop his execution. Hunt said Wednesday evening that the evidence showed that Sexton was guilty of the crimes.The full Supreme Court rejected two petitions for a stay of execution filed on Sexton’s behalf. There was no dissent.Hunt, who has granted executive clemency only once in his 16 years as governor, met last week with prosecutors, the victim’s family, Sexton’s attorney and death penalty opponents.
Sexton spent his last day visiting with half brother David Sheppard and his godmother, Myrtle Sheppard, in the death watch area at Central Prison in Raleigh. Crews’ parents, husband and brother asked to watch Sexton die.”Mr. Sexton acted with premeditation in ending the life of a woman who had done nothing to deserve her fate, and who had devoted her life to helping others in need, especially children who had been abused and mistreated,” Hunt said. Hunt said his review of the case left him “absolutely certain that there is no question here concerning the guilt of the convicted individual, or of his mental capacity.
“Death penalty opponents said they were disappointed with the governor’s action because of a growing public sentiment to halt executions while the fairness of the death penalty is studied. A legislative study commission looking into capital punishment already had asked Hunt to stop Sexton’s execution.”Some of the most important political leaders in North Carolina urged Gov. Hunt to not grant clemency, but simply delay this execution while our state’s lawmakers review the evident problems with the death penalty,” said Stephen Dear, executive director of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty.
About 100 people protested Sexton’s death outside Central Prison early Thursday in a vigil leading up to the execution.Dear said studies show a racial bias against blacks in administration of the death penalty and the number of people on death row.Dear said Sexton had one black on his jury.”There is evidence of institutional racism and what Gov. Hunt is saying is I don’t care,” Dear said. “The system is broken and it is not fair.
“Sexton becomes the 1st condemned inmate to be put to death this year in North Carolina and the 16th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1985. 2 more executions are scheduled in the state this year.Sexton becomes the 74th condemned inmate to be executed this year in the USA and the 672nd overall since America resumed executions on January 17, 1977.
