Child killer executed in Florida

STARKE, Fla., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Child killer Richard Henyard was executed by lethal injection in Florida Tuesday night after a two-hour delay caused by last-ditch efforts to save his life.

Henyard, 34, was pronounced dead at 8:16 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Starke, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported. His execution had been scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Lake County man was convicted of killing two sisters from Eustis, Fla., Jamilya Lewis, 7, and Jasmine Lewis, 3, and of raping and shooting their mother, Dorothy Lewis, in front of the girls in 1993.

Dorothy Lewis, who recovered, wasn't expected to attend the execution, though her husband and other family members were granted the right to be there, the Sentinel reported. She repeatedly has said she opposes the death penalty.

The delay in carrying out the death penalty occurred as authorities waited for a final U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a defense team petition. However, the nation's highest court denied a stay in Henyard's case, though it did issue one in a death-penalty case in Georgia Tuesday.

Henyard was described by Corrections Department spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger as "somewhat quiet and withdrawn, but he is respectful" earlier in the day.

Henyard's last meal was two fried chicken breasts, turkey sausage, fried rice, chocolate-chip cookies and Coca-Cola. He didn't finish it all, Plessinger said.

He also met with his Muslim spiritual adviser, she said.