A South Dakota inmate put to death for the 2011 killing of a prison guard in a failed escape joked in his last words about a several-hour delay to his execution.
Rodney Berget was killed by lethal injection Monday for the 2011 killing of Ronald “R.J.” Johnson. The execution, originally scheduled to be carried out at 1:30 p.m. CDT, was delayed for hours while the U.S. Supreme Court weighed a last-minute legal bid to block it.
Before he was executed, Berget said, “Sorry for the delay, I got caught in traffic.”
The 56-year-old inmate was soft-spoken and appeared emotional. He also thanked people for their support.
After the drug was administered, Berget groaned.
He drifted off and snored briefly before his eyes closed.
Berget was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. CDT.
Updated: 5:15 a.m. 10/30/18
South Dakota’s attorney general says the state is waiting for direction after a lawyer asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution of an inmate who killed a prison guard.
Rodney Berget was scheduled to be put to death at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Attorney General Marty Jackley said after the scheduled execution time had passed that he would address reporters once a decision is reached.
Attorney Juliet Yackel says in her U.S. Supreme Court filing that Berget is intellectually disabled.
The state Supreme Court earlier denied a motion from Yackel arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment.
Berget asked that court to dismiss Yackel’s petition.
Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald “R.J.” Johnson in a failed 2011 escape.
Updated 3:50 p.m. 10/29/18
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A lawyer who unsuccessfully asked South Dakota’s highest court to stop the death sentence of a man who killed a prison guard has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution.
Rodney Berget was to be put to death at 1:30 p.m.
Attorney Juliet Yackel says in the U.S. Supreme Court filing that Berget is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty.
The state Supreme Court earlier denied a motion from Yackel arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment.
Berget in an affidavit asked that court to dismiss Yackel’s petition.
Berget is to be put to death for the slaying of Ronald “R.J.” Johnson in a failed 2011 escape.
Berget and fellow inmate Eric Robert beat Johnson with a pipe and covered his head in plastic wrap.
Robert was executed in October 2012.
