Gov. Kay Ivey commented late Thursday on the cancellation of the execution of Alan Eugene Miller after a federal appeals court refused to lift an injunction on the execution.
“In Alabama, we are committed to law and order and upholding justice,” Ivey said in a press release. “Despite the circumstances that led to the cancellation of this execution, nothing will change the fact that a jury heard the evidence of this case and made a decision. It does not change the fact that Mr. Miller never disputed his crimes. And it does not change the fact that three families still grieve. We all know full well that Michael Holdbrooks, Terry Lee Jarvis, and Christopher Scott Yancey did not choose to die by bullets to the chest. Tonight, my prayers are with the victims’ families and loved ones as they are forced to continue reliving the pain of their loss.”
Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm visited with the victims’ families prior to updating the press after the cancellation and relayed to them the governor’s prayers and concerns.
The cancellation of Miller’s execution followed a 2-to-1 decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejection of Alabama’s attempt to proceed with Miller’s execution. Miller has asked to die from nitrogen hypoxia instead of by lethal injection. The state says that it is not prepared to use the nitrogen hypoxia method yet and is, however, capable of killing by lethal injection. The court refused to lift the injunction by federal district Judge R. Austin Haffaker Jr. on the execution preventing the state from executing Miller.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has stated that the state is appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Miller, age 57, was convicted of murdering Holbrooks, Jarvis, and Yancey in a workplace rage attack. Miller claims that the victims were spreading rumors about him.
Gov. Ivey anticipates that the execution will be rescheduled as early as possible.
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