HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A man who orchestrated one of the most gruesome hate crimes in U.S. history was set to be executed Wednesday for the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. nearly 21 years ago. If executed, King would be the fourth inmate put to death this year in the U.S. and the third in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday rejected a similar request to stop the execution. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday turned down King’s request for either a commutation of his sentence or a 120-day reprieve. King, who grew up in Jasper and was known as “Bill,” will be the second man executed in the case.

Source: National Post April 24, 2019 04:26 UTC