Poll: Botched Oklahoma execution has had little effect on U.S. view of death penalty

WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- The botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma has not reduced support for the death penalty in the United States, a Gallup poll said Thursday.

More than six out of 10 respondents said in a survey that the death penalty is "morally acceptable" as a punishment for murder. The 61 percent who took that view this year is statistically unchanged from 62 percent last year.

Clayton Lockett died of a heart attack on April 29, 10 minutes after prison officials halted the execution. Oklahoma agreed to suspend executions for six months while it investigates Lockett's death.

Gallup polls have found U.S. support for the death penalty declining after peaking at 80 percent in 1994.

Gallup began asking whether the penalty is morally acceptable in 2001. In 2006, 71 percent said it is, the largest share so far.

Almost two-thirds, 65 percent, of those interviewed said they believe lethal injection is the most humane method of execution.

Gallup interviewed 1,028 adults between May 8 and May 11. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.