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"Candy Man" and "The man that killed Halloween."

 

Ronald O'Bryan was confined to the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. According to Reverend Carroll Pickett, a former chaplain who worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, O'Bryan was shunned and despised by his fellow Death Row inmates for killing a child and was "absolutely friendless". The inmates reportedly petitioned to hold an organized demonstration on O'Bryan's execution date to express their hatred of him.[32]

O'Bryan's first execution date was set for August 8, 1980. His attorney successfully petitioned for a stay of execution. A second date was scheduled for May 25, 1982.[33] That date was also postponed.[6] Judge Michael McSpadden scheduled a third execution date for October 31, 1982, the eighth anniversary of the crime, and he offered to personally drive O'Bryan to the death chamber.[34] It was to have been the first time Texas executed an inmate by lethal injection. The Supreme Court delayed the date yet again to give O'Bryan a chance to pursue an appeal to seek a new trial.[35] A fourth date was scheduled for March 31, 1984. O'Bryan's lawyer sought a fourth stay on the basis that lethal injection was a "cruel and unusual punishment". On March 28, a federal judge rejected the request. On March 31, 1984, shortly after midnight, O'Bryan was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit.[36] In his final statement, O'Bryan maintained his innocence stating that he felt the death penalty was "wrong". He added, "...I forgive all – and I do mean all – those who have been involved in my death. God bless you all and may God's best blessings be always yours." During the execution, a crowd of 300 demonstrators gathered outside the prison cheered while some yelled "Trick or treat!". Others showered anti-death penalty demonstrators with candy.[31]

Last edited by Bestworking

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