Texas man executed for two killings

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, March 10 (UPI) -- James Edward Martinez of Fort Worth, Texas, was executed Tuesday for killing a 20-year-old man and the woman he once dated, officials said.

The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Martinez, 34, went to the death chamber, reassuring his mother and sister.

"I hope you can move on after this," Martinez told them from the gurney in the death chamber. "I'll be fine. I'll be OK. I love you, too."

The newspaper said the man's mother, Marta, stood against the window weeping as the drugs took affect on her son. He was sentenced to death in 2002.

"Don't go James! You can't die. I need you," she said. "You died for a lie. James, James come back!"

Minutes later, she collapsed and had to be taken away in wheelchair, the newspaper said.

About 25 years ago, she also was convicted of murder for killing her ex-husband and his fiancee. She was given probation, however, after the jury learned she killed to protect herself from a beating and was a devoted mother and hardworking, religious woman.

The Star-Telegram said Martinez did not acknowledge the family of his victims.

"It is a shame to think all of this could have been avoided," said Brad Humphreys, whose son, Mike, was killed.

Humphreys witnessed the execution of his father's killer in November 2001.