04 April 2024 , 19:24
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Michael Smith claimed he was innocent of the murder of Janet Moore and Sharath Pulluru in February 2002 and couldn’t remember being arrested because he had taken too many drugs
The heartless final words of executed killer Michael DeWayne Smith have emerged following his execution in Oklahoma on Thursday.
Smith died by lethal injection was pronounced dead at 10:20am local time at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. The death row inmate was convicted of shooting to death two women in two separate incidents in February 2002.
Given the opportunity to say any last words, Smith uttered: "Nah, I’m good." The son of Janet Moore - one of his victims - Phillip Zachary Jr. and niece Morgan Miller-Perkins witnessed the execution from behind a one-way glass.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond read a statement on their behalf that said in part: "Justice has been served." It was reported that he did not ask for a final meal.
Despite claiming his innocence, prosecutors described Smith as a ruthless gang member who killed both victims in misguided acts of revenge and confessed his involvement in the killings to police, his roommate and a neighbour. Moore, 40, was shot in her apartment, they argued, because he was looking for her son who he believed had snitched on him to the police over his whereabouts.
Later on the same day, prosecutors said Smith then shot Sharath Pulluru, 22 - who was working as a store clerk at A&Z Food Mart - nine times because he believed she had disrespected his gang during an interview with a newspaper reporter. She was then doused in lighter fluid and set on fire.
Last month, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 to deny Smith clemency, meaning that his sentence could not be commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In a video from inside death row, Smith told the board: "I didn’t commit these crimes. I didn’t kill these people. He then added: “I was high on drugs. I don’t even remember getting arrested.”
He also expressed "deep remorse" the families of the two victims. Mark Henricksen, Smith’s attorney, argued that he is intellectually disabled and that his condition was worsened by years of hardcore drug use.
He said that his life should be spared and be allowed to spend the rest of his days behind bars. Mr Henricksen also claimed Smith was in a PCP-induced haze when he confessed to police and that key elements of his confession aren’t supported by facts.
Michael Smith denied responsibility for the killings until his final breath (Image: Oklahoma Department Of Corrections)
Smith was the fourth inmate to be executed in the US in 2024. Ivan Cantu, the second person executed this year the States in February devoted a last speech to the families of the victim, but not before he claimed his innocence. He said: "I did not kill James and Amy. I’d like to address the Kitchens and Mosqueda families. I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy.
"And if I did, if I knew who did, you would’ve been the first to know any information I would’ve had that would’ve helped to bring you closure if it does." He was convicted of murdering his cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend more than 20 years ago.