Failed Execution In Alabama Results In Convict Undergoing Two Hours of Torture Leaving Him Punctured And Bleeding

6The Defense report

Hamm’s lawyer filed two civil lawsuits at the Alabama State Circuit Court and the US District Court. Hamm recollects that his gory failed execution was ultimately called off after suffering two and half hours of Physical and psychological torture” even as medical personnel forced needles into his right femoral vein which is near the groin, and lower extremities. This caused a lot of bleeding and pain.

In total Hamm suffered 11 puncture wounds when the medical team forcibly attempted to locate his veins in the groin, leg and ankle. 

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7They poked needles, and moved them around in his limbs

His case document stated that one execution team member even inserted a needle into his leg and kept it there for several minutes. He also moved it around constantly but failed to locate Hamm’s veins. This caused the convict immense pain.

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8A punctured and profusely bleeding groin

When the team could not find the legs in his legs, they tried to insert a catheter into his right femoral artery which was his groin. This resulted in severe bleeding and intense pain for Hamm. One of the staff then applied a pad to control and stop the blood which was required to be changed after being soaked with blood. 

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9A total of 11 puncture wounds

Heath reported that he had found a total of 11 puncture wounds on Hamm’s body and 6 which he described as a partial overlap in the groin area. Heath also took pictures which he attached to his report that showed not only puncture wounds all over Hamm’s hands and feet but also bruises on the feet, leg and groin.

Heath also found a large Hematoma which is a swollen blood clot which he attributed to an unusually large leakage from the femoral vein. This explains the puncture wound that resulted in bleeding from his groin. He also stated that the convict was suffering severe pain in the lower abdomen which could be the cause of a bladder injury. 

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10Very disturbing incident

Hamm’s attorney Bernard Harcourt said “This was clearly a botched execution that can only be accurately described as torture." The executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center stated that the pictures and documents were very “disturbing”

"To say this was a botched execution is an understatement," Dunham said. "When you see the pictures of the groin, you don't see bruising like that in a properly set line. This man was strapped to a gurney for 2½ hours, and during that period, they literally poked holes in him." 

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