Last night, December 3, 2013, the State of Texas carried out its last execution of the year, putting Jerry Martin to death for the 2007 murder of Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison guard Susan Canfield during a prison escape from the Wynne Unit in Huntsville. Earlier this year, Martin waived his right to further appeal his case. Nationwide, there are at least 142 inmates who decided to give up their appeals and proceed with their executions, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
According to the Associated Press via Tyler Morning Telegraph (thanks to StandDown Texas for the link):
From the death chamber gurney, Martin told relatives of the slain corrections officer that he was sorry. “I wish I could take it back, but I can’t,” he said.
“I hope this gives you closure. I did not murder your loved one. It was an accident. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it happened. I take full responsibility.”
Fellow escapee and co-defendant John Falk Jr. is awaiting a retrial after a judge declared a mistrial in Falk’s capital murder case late last year.
The State of Texas carried out 16 executions this year, nearly half of all executions to date statewide. At least three executions are scheduled to take place in other states later this month.