Georgia man dies by lethal injection

A Georgia man became the first in the country to die by lethal injection after the United States Supreme Court upheld that method of execution.

The prison warden asked William Earl Lynd if he wanted to pray or make a final statement. He declined. Shortly after the warden read the order of execution and began the lethal injection process.

With a nurse by his side Lynd lay strapped to a gurney, his arms outstretched and supported by two boards, an IV in each arm. It took him close to 20 minutes to be declared dead.

Lynd was separated from the witnesses by a large window. Observers included the brother of his victim. In 1988 Lynd was convicted and sentenced to die for the murder of his girlfriend, Virginia Moore.

He is the 18th person to die by lethal injection in Georgia.