The final procedures began at 4.30 am. Accompanied by a night guard, I entered the cell. Paul was still sleeping. His face seemed to be calm and mild. I stared at him feeling pity, a shame and sense of judicial cruelty. But the time was racing and I was required to adhere to strict procedures. I touched his face gently: "Wake up please, It' almost time" - I whispered to his ear. He opened eyes slowly trying to come back to life. His face stiffened, apparently he realized where he was. I asked him to remove the night wear and socks and caressed his course cheeks and chest. "You should be groomed better today". Then I helped him shave the stubble as well as the rest of body hair. A mandatory enema was applied in knee chest position. Then I directed him to a bowl to relieve. "This is better for you. You'll remain clean until the end" - I told. He nodded reluctantly. Finally I led him to the shower. Warm water was calming his body for the last time. He wiped himself and sat down on the bed. Then I offered him a bottle of soda. "No food today, but you should drink more" I told. I handed him black, thin boxer-briefs. "Put it on. It will make you feel better and protect your privacy". Paul obeyed and stood upright. "I am scared" he said. He was ready now.
The bars of his cell opened loudly at 5.30. Paul stood back but the guards from extraction team run inside and encircled him. They were all large men, dressed in black uniforms and combat boots armed with truncheons and paralysers. They were specially trained to be quick, efficient and not pay any attention on inmates' protest. Paul, who was standing almost naked between them, looked extremely vulnerable and helpless. He was breathing heavily and his body was wet with sweat. His briefs got wet and transparent so his stiffening nicely circumcised penis was well visible. "No! Don't take me, I don't want to die! leave me alone!!!.- he cried and resisted desperately. The guards grabbed his shoulders.
"Stop! OK, it will be all right" I said. "He will go by himself. "Don't drag him now". Paul calmed down a bit. From this time no words were told, the guards acted automatically and professionally. His wrists were cuffed behind his back and his ankles were shackled. The chain was short, thus Paul could make only small steps. Hesitating, he took one step towards the cell door and exited his cell. I released him as the guards held Paul's arm strongly and guided him down the hall. I followed behind them admiring his round and supple buttocks and his curved waist as they moved and jostled while he walked. His white palms leashed together, bounced upon tops of his butt cheeks. The procession was moving slowly along the death row cells. All prisoners waved their hands through the bars shouting farewell to Paul. The two guards kept moving him slowly forward forcing him to walk in short steps. His skin was covered with sweat, his eyes were watery, but he was walking slowly without any enforcement towards a steel grey door in the end of the hall. The group passed a heavy door which was locked loudly behind. It was the final destination. The death chamber was a large dim room of concrete walls and floor. The center was brightly lid with a heavy cross beam let into the walls. Two hooks terminating in bolts were attached, but only one hold a thick dangling rope with 13 coils noose. Below was a trapdoor with painted feet signs adapted for maximum two prisoners executed together. I felt pity Paul was alone. Possibly he could be better with someone else hanged nearby. There were some people standing on sides, but their faces were barely visible. At the left wall a steel gurney was visible as well as table with some papers. box with restraints and a tag toe.
Paul - terrified and trembling - was led to a small table. The warden asked him about his full name and the and date of birth. He confirmed in weak trembling voice. Death warrant was read but he didn't seem to hear, standing upright and staring somewhere into infinity.
“Do you have any last words?” was asked.
He didn't respond, petrified and speechless, but his big blue eyes were begging for life. Two guards moved him to the printed feet on the trapdoor. A couple of sensors were attached to his smooth chest. Handcuffs were tightened, but leg shackles remained loose. His boxer briefs were quickly cut and removed so he was totally naked now. He was breathing heavily and obviously felt growing fright. A tall, masked man approached and lowered the noose quickly over his head and pulled it snug around his neck, the heavy knot lying in the back. Paul could feel now the structure of the rope. No hood was applied. All his muscles were trembling and thousands of pictures from his life were running through his brain. His penis aroused and leaked drops of pre-cum fluid. I came closer and gently caressed his sweating cheeks. "You go to a better place. Don't pretend being someone else. You'll feel pain and be aware for a couple of minutes. Remain natural, just kick, and fight. This way will help the noose to constrict tighter. I shall be very close. We're almost ready" .
There was total silence now. Wall clock shown 5.59. The convict was standing in the spot of bright lights, vulnerable, brutally noosed, sweating and shaking involuntarily. ECG monitor showed 150 beats per minute. There were no guards holding him any more.
Silence was broken by loud voice of the warden. "Commence the execution!
The executioner pressed the red button and the rope started to lift up slowly, tightened and the knot lift from his back until it stood upright and constricted around his neck. He was standing on the balls of his feet and his toes. His calves muscles were extremely tense threatening to tear up. Fists were clenched. There was no sound except of fast breathing of the condemned. The hoisting stopped and it seemed to last forever. Paul was extremely tense and stiff , his head was bent to the front and started to gurgle. Few witnesses were so shocked that rushed to a sink and puked. Finally, the hangman pulled the lever hard. Trap dropped with a crash and the condemned dropped no more than one inch. He was still for a second, then started to thrash around feeling sensation of the noose tightening around his neck. His tightly bound ankles hit against the edge of the platform, and once he got his feet above it, only to swing away and have them fall again. His chest was heaving with his efforts for air but I knew that the increasingly constricting noose would throttle off his supply, as well as his blood to his brain, and unconsciousness and death would soon follow. He jerked and jackknifed, swinging his legs around, writhing in his final moments. The muscles of his arms and chest bulged and surged as he strove hard but uselessly to loosen the bonds I had tied so securely.
His unhooded face was contorting terribly indicating absolutely excruciating pain in his neck and chest. His legs were kicking wildly and involuntarily, feet and toes were pointed to the ground.
I was observing the usual agonal sequences from close proximity. The condemned was conscious and continued useless fighting for as long as five minutes, which had happened never before. His penis was huge now and exploded with a massive amount of white fluid. His face became bluish, teeth clenched on protruded tongue, saliva was dribbling on his face. Eyes were open wide with fright and astonishment. Lost of consciousness was followed by a series of tonic – clonic convulsions which lasted for the next three minutes. Then his arms flexed, the hands clenched into fists, the legs extended and feet turned inward. It was a sign of decortication of brain. It was not over. Subsequently his arms extended with the wrists pronated and the fingers flexed. The legs were stiffly extended with forced plantar flexion of the feet. His back arched and this sequence indicated decerebrate rigidity. In 23 minute from the onset of execution the muscle tone was lost and only isolated body movements were visible. Last sign of waning life were weak abdominal respiratory movements. Skin was pale - grey. At 6.30 the body was still. The paramedic approached, felt for the pulse on the neck and put the stethoscope on the chest. The ecg monitor showed flat line. The executee was declared dead and respective papers were signed.
Justice has been done, the condemned man received proper payback for his crime. He pleaded guilty, regret and the court did not make a mistake. But none of attendees felt a sense of triumph. Paul wanted to live, even in long-term prison. His life was brutally taken out in a form of inhumane torture. From now the witness had to leave the chamber. Most of them were wiping their eyes, some had vomit to sink. Only extracting team remained. Then a gurney was wheeled and the naked body was slowly lowered on the stretcher. The face was calm, with slightly open mouth and protruded tongue, eyes were fixed and wide open. The rope was cut off but the noose remained on the neck. Tag toe was attached to the left foot.
The body was taken to a busy place - the prison morgue - for autopsy. The report was released to the witness and officials attending the execution and is cited below.
The bars of his cell opened loudly at 5.30. Paul stood back but the guards from extraction team run inside and encircled him. They were all large men, dressed in black uniforms and combat boots armed with truncheons and paralysers. They were specially trained to be quick, efficient and not pay any attention on inmates' protest. Paul, who was standing almost naked between them, looked extremely vulnerable and helpless. He was breathing heavily and his body was wet with sweat. His briefs got wet and transparent so his stiffening nicely circumcised penis was well visible. "No! Don't take me, I don't want to die! leave me alone!!!.- he cried and resisted desperately. The guards grabbed his shoulders.
"Stop! OK, it will be all right" I said. "He will go by himself. "Don't drag him now". Paul calmed down a bit. From this time no words were told, the guards acted automatically and professionally. His wrists were cuffed behind his back and his ankles were shackled. The chain was short, thus Paul could make only small steps. Hesitating, he took one step towards the cell door and exited his cell. I released him as the guards held Paul's arm strongly and guided him down the hall. I followed behind them admiring his round and supple buttocks and his curved waist as they moved and jostled while he walked. His white palms leashed together, bounced upon tops of his butt cheeks. The procession was moving slowly along the death row cells. All prisoners waved their hands through the bars shouting farewell to Paul. The two guards kept moving him slowly forward forcing him to walk in short steps. His skin was covered with sweat, his eyes were watery, but he was walking slowly without any enforcement towards a steel grey door in the end of the hall. The group passed a heavy door which was locked loudly behind. It was the final destination. The death chamber was a large dim room of concrete walls and floor. The center was brightly lid with a heavy cross beam let into the walls. Two hooks terminating in bolts were attached, but only one hold a thick dangling rope with 13 coils noose. Below was a trapdoor with painted feet signs adapted for maximum two prisoners executed together. I felt pity Paul was alone. Possibly he could be better with someone else hanged nearby. There were some people standing on sides, but their faces were barely visible. At the left wall a steel gurney was visible as well as table with some papers. box with restraints and a tag toe.
Paul - terrified and trembling - was led to a small table. The warden asked him about his full name and the and date of birth. He confirmed in weak trembling voice. Death warrant was read but he didn't seem to hear, standing upright and staring somewhere into infinity.
“Do you have any last words?” was asked.
He didn't respond, petrified and speechless, but his big blue eyes were begging for life. Two guards moved him to the printed feet on the trapdoor. A couple of sensors were attached to his smooth chest. Handcuffs were tightened, but leg shackles remained loose. His boxer briefs were quickly cut and removed so he was totally naked now. He was breathing heavily and obviously felt growing fright. A tall, masked man approached and lowered the noose quickly over his head and pulled it snug around his neck, the heavy knot lying in the back. Paul could feel now the structure of the rope. No hood was applied. All his muscles were trembling and thousands of pictures from his life were running through his brain. His penis aroused and leaked drops of pre-cum fluid. I came closer and gently caressed his sweating cheeks. "You go to a better place. Don't pretend being someone else. You'll feel pain and be aware for a couple of minutes. Remain natural, just kick, and fight. This way will help the noose to constrict tighter. I shall be very close. We're almost ready" .
There was total silence now. Wall clock shown 5.59. The convict was standing in the spot of bright lights, vulnerable, brutally noosed, sweating and shaking involuntarily. ECG monitor showed 150 beats per minute. There were no guards holding him any more.
Silence was broken by loud voice of the warden. "Commence the execution!
The executioner pressed the red button and the rope started to lift up slowly, tightened and the knot lift from his back until it stood upright and constricted around his neck. He was standing on the balls of his feet and his toes. His calves muscles were extremely tense threatening to tear up. Fists were clenched. There was no sound except of fast breathing of the condemned. The hoisting stopped and it seemed to last forever. Paul was extremely tense and stiff , his head was bent to the front and started to gurgle. Few witnesses were so shocked that rushed to a sink and puked. Finally, the hangman pulled the lever hard. Trap dropped with a crash and the condemned dropped no more than one inch. He was still for a second, then started to thrash around feeling sensation of the noose tightening around his neck. His tightly bound ankles hit against the edge of the platform, and once he got his feet above it, only to swing away and have them fall again. His chest was heaving with his efforts for air but I knew that the increasingly constricting noose would throttle off his supply, as well as his blood to his brain, and unconsciousness and death would soon follow. He jerked and jackknifed, swinging his legs around, writhing in his final moments. The muscles of his arms and chest bulged and surged as he strove hard but uselessly to loosen the bonds I had tied so securely.
His unhooded face was contorting terribly indicating absolutely excruciating pain in his neck and chest. His legs were kicking wildly and involuntarily, feet and toes were pointed to the ground.
I was observing the usual agonal sequences from close proximity. The condemned was conscious and continued useless fighting for as long as five minutes, which had happened never before. His penis was huge now and exploded with a massive amount of white fluid. His face became bluish, teeth clenched on protruded tongue, saliva was dribbling on his face. Eyes were open wide with fright and astonishment. Lost of consciousness was followed by a series of tonic – clonic convulsions which lasted for the next three minutes. Then his arms flexed, the hands clenched into fists, the legs extended and feet turned inward. It was a sign of decortication of brain. It was not over. Subsequently his arms extended with the wrists pronated and the fingers flexed. The legs were stiffly extended with forced plantar flexion of the feet. His back arched and this sequence indicated decerebrate rigidity. In 23 minute from the onset of execution the muscle tone was lost and only isolated body movements were visible. Last sign of waning life were weak abdominal respiratory movements. Skin was pale - grey. At 6.30 the body was still. The paramedic approached, felt for the pulse on the neck and put the stethoscope on the chest. The ecg monitor showed flat line. The executee was declared dead and respective papers were signed.
Justice has been done, the condemned man received proper payback for his crime. He pleaded guilty, regret and the court did not make a mistake. But none of attendees felt a sense of triumph. Paul wanted to live, even in long-term prison. His life was brutally taken out in a form of inhumane torture. From now the witness had to leave the chamber. Most of them were wiping their eyes, some had vomit to sink. Only extracting team remained. Then a gurney was wheeled and the naked body was slowly lowered on the stretcher. The face was calm, with slightly open mouth and protruded tongue, eyes were fixed and wide open. The rope was cut off but the noose remained on the neck. Tag toe was attached to the left foot.
The body was taken to a busy place - the prison morgue - for autopsy. The report was released to the witness and officials attending the execution and is cited below.
