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Politics

Crist selects five to study lethal injection

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist named former Florida Corrections Secretary Harry Singletary and four other members Friday to a commission that will study the state's lethal injection procedure after a botched execution.

Singletary, of Tallahassee, headed the Corrections Department for eight years in the 1990s. The electric chair was used for executions during his tenure.

Crist's other appointments include two from Tampa: Bill Jennings, a capital collateral regional counsel representing death row inmates in court; and Dr. David Varlotta, an anesthesiologist. He also named Rodney Doss of Tallahassee, director of victim services for the Attorney General's Office, and Dr. Peter Springer of Ormond Beach, Volusia County Emergency Medical Services medical director.

Gov. Jeb Bush created the Governor's Commission on Administration of Lethal Injection following the Dec. 13 execution of Angel Nieves Diaz, a convicted murderer. It took half an hour, twice as long as normal, for Diaz to die. He was given a second dose of fatal chemicals.

Doctors later concluded needles were pushed through his veins into soft tissue, delaying the flow of chemicals into his bloodstream and possibly causing pain.

Crist's appointees will join six other members of the panel.

Attorney General Bill McCollum previously named Federal Bureau of Prisons director Harley Lappin; Assistant Deputy Attorney General Carolyn Snurkowski; and Dr. Steve Morris, project director for bioterrorism and disaster training in the University of South Florida's nursing school. Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis has appointed Circuit Judge Stan Morris, who sentenced serial killer Danny Rolling, who was executed last year.

Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, has appointed Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, who chairs the Civil and Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Coral Gables, has yet to announce his selection.

[Last modified January 13, 2007, 01:47:01]