Baze Talks About Death Penalty Case

COVERING KENTUCKY
Baze Talks About Death Penalty Case

Posted: Jan 14, 2008 06:06 PM

Updated: Jan 14, 2008 06:06 PM

FEATURED VIDEOS Baze Talks About Lethal Injection Case

Kentucky death row inmate Ralph Baze, at the center of a case currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court, told LEX 18 Monday that the state's form of lethal injection needs big changes.

Baze, who was convicted of killing a Powell County sheriff and deputy say the three drugs used by Kentucky for execution are far too complex, and that they violate his constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment.

Baze's challenge made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Kentucky death row inmates Baze and Thomas Clyde Bowling argue they will feel excruciating pain because of one of the drugs used to kill them, and that because of a second drug, they will be unable to let anyone know about the pain. Baze tells us that's even more upsetting because there are so many pain-free ways to kill someone.

"If your objective is to take a person out of society, then you should do it the most humane way possible," said Baze. "But if your objective is to make them suffer for their last few minutes of their lives, then they're accomplishing that with what they're doing."

After the Supreme Court wrapped up their hearing last week, several justices made it clear they feel very differently about whether or not the process of lethal injection should change.

Currently, Kentucky is one of 36 states using lethal injection. The Supreme Court's decision likely won't come until later this year.