Texas execution first in US since Christa Pike survived botched lethal injection

Texas has carried out the first execution in the US since Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike survived a failed lethal injection last week. Jamaal Howard, 46, received a fatal dose of pentobarbital at the state prison in Huntsville and was pronounced dead at 8:03 pm. Howard had been convicted of shooting and killing 42-year-old clerk Vickie Swartout in a convenience store robbery in Silsbee, Texas, in 2000. Howard is said to have gasped and taken a few breaths as the drug took effect, before making snoring sounds and coughing. All movement stopped within around 30 seconds, and he was pronounced dead 19 minutes later. Before the execution took place, Howard addressed some members of Swartout's family, apologising and asking for forgiveness.