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Florida executed a prisoner who killed his cellmate in hopes of getting a death sentence. It's the state's 17th execution of the year
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- James Robertson, a Florida prisoner who admitted to killing his cellmate to get on death row, was executed by lethal injection after nearly 18 years since the 2008 murder.
- Robertson waived all appeals and declined to give last words, contrasting with a recent botched execution in Tennessee that reignited debates on the death penalty.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew a death warrant for another inmate, William Lee Thompson, citing a psychiatric evaluation, marking his first such reprieve despite overseeing a high number of executions.
- Florida leads the nation in executions, with 17 carried out in 2026 so far and more scheduled, reflecting DeSantis’ focus on delivering justice for victims' families.
- The state uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol and continues to be at the center of national discussions about the death penalty amid increasing scrutiny and controversy.
