Mississippi executes killer

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PARCHMAN, Miss., June 12 (UPI) -- The state of Mississippi Tuesday executed Jan Michael Brawner, who killed his daughter, ex-wife and former in-laws.

Brawner was given a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Parchman and was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m., corrections officials said in a statement. Brawner was put to death for the slayings of his daughter, Candice Paige Brawner, his former wife, Barbara Faye Brawner, and her parents, Martha Jane Craft and Carl Albert Craft.

"The state of Mississippi -- Department of Corrections has today carried out a court order," Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said following the execution. "It is our agency's role to see that the order of the court is carried out with dignity and decorum. That, ladies and gentlemen, has been done.

"Through the course of 11 years, death row inmate Jan Michael Brawner was afforded his day in court and in the finality, his conviction was upheld all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I ask that you join me in prayer for the family of Candice Paige Brawner, Barbara Faye Brawner, Martha Jane Craft and Carl Albert Craft. The entire MDOC family hopes you may now embark on the process of healing. Our prayers and thoughts are with you as you continue life's journey."

The Corrections Department said prior to his execution Brawner made four calls to an attorney, Louwlynn Williams, and was visited by attorneys David Calder and Laurence Komp, and his spiritual advisers, the Rev. Marvin Edwards and the Rev. Todd Pittman. He had no family visitors.

He ate most of his last meal, was given a sedative and declined to take a shower. Officers observed him to be in a good mood and talkative.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a final application for stay of execution.