THIS IS KOCO FIVE NEWS AT FOUR. THAT’S 100% FOOLPROOF. WE SHOULDN’T BE KILLING ANYBODY. BECAUSE JUST LIKE MY SIGN SAYS, WHAT IF WE GOT IT WRONG TODAY? MICHAEL DWAYNE SMITH BECAME THE LATEST DEATH ROW INMATE EXECUTED IN OKLAHOMA. HE WAS CONVICTED OF TWO MURDERS IN 2002. SMITH DYING BY LETHAL INJECTION THIS MORNING AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE PENITENTIARY. THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE AT 4:00. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I’M EVAN ONSTOT I’M JESSICA SCHAMBACH. THAT’S WHERE WE START IN YOUR TOP FIVE STORIES TODAY. IN RESPONSE, SINCE A GROUP GATHERED TO PROTEST CALLING FOR AN END TO THE DEATH PENALTY IN OKLAHOMA, CAMERON SIBERT SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PROTESTERS AS THEY DEMONSTRATE. LEAD COMING TO YOU IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION THIS MORNING. THIS IS THE GROUP BEHIND US STANDING IN SOLIDARITY IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF MICHAEL SMITH’S LIFE, JUST MINUTES BEFORE HIS EXECUTION THIS MORNING, STANDING TOGETHER AS THEY PUSH FOR AN END TO EXECUTIONS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. I HAVE LONG BEEN AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY. WE FEEL LIKE THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. I THINK HE OUGHT TO SPEND A LIFE IN PRISON AND NOT EXECUTE THEM OUTSIDE THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION, HOLDING BANNERS AND SIGNS. THE LATEST PROTEST AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY IN OKLAHOMA. AND WHY KEEP COMING BACK? WELL, BECAUSE WE CAN’T GIVE UP. TRACY CARMACK HAS BEEN TO MORE THAN A DOZEN PART OF THE OKLAHOMA COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY. WHAT IF A FAMILY MEMBER OF YOURS WAS WRONGLY CONVICTED AND TRIED AND EXECUTED, AND THEN THEY FIND OUT LATER THAT THEY WERE INNOCENT? YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THAT BACK. IF THESE PEOPLE HAD SOME UNDERLYING CAUSE, KEEP THEM INCARCERATED. KEEP THEM INCARCERATED FOR LIFE, BUT TREAT THEM. HELP THEM. DON’T JUST MURDER THEM. DOWN THE LINE STANDS. DALVIN COOKS. IT’S HIS FIRST TIME PICKING UP A SIGN. WHAT IS IT THAT PUSHED YOU OVER THE EDGE TO TO STOP WATCHING YOUR TV, BUT ACTUALLY PICK UP A SIGN AND COME OUT AND STAND HERE BECAUSE I’M TIRED OF THIS. I THINK THE SYSTEM IS NOT IN OUR FAVOR OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AT ALL. I’M TIRED OF LOOKING AT TV AND EVERYBODY GOT A DATE AT 10 A.M. TO DIE. THE LATEST DATE WAS MICHAEL DEWAYNE SMITH, EXECUTED THURSDAY MORNING AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE PENITENTIARY. HE CONFESSED AND WAS CONVICTED FOR TWO SEPARATE MURDERS. IN 2002, ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND SHARED A STATEMENT WHICH ENDED BY SAYING SMITH’S VICTIMS WERE MURDERED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. THAT WAS ALL SAYING HE’S GRATEFUL THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED. IF TWO BARBARIC. JESUS TAUGHT LOVE AND COMPASSION AND WE NEED TO EXEMPLIFY THAT. IF WE’RE GOING TO CALL OURSELVES A CHRISTIAN STATE. MICHAEL SMITH IS THE 12TH INMATE EXECUTED SINCE OKLAHOMA LIFTED A
Oklahoma executes Michael Dewayne Smith for killing 2 victims in 2002
He had been on death row for the Feb. 22, 2002, murders of 40-year-old Janet Moore and 24-year-old store clerk Sharath Pulluru in separate incidents
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Updated: 4:42 PM CDT Apr 4, 2024
The state of Oklahoma has executed death row inmate Michael Dewayne Smith for killing two people in separate incidents in February of 2002.| MORE | Oklahoma group protesting Thursday's execution of death row inmate Michael Dewayne SmithSmith, 41, was executed Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He had been on death row for the Feb. 22, 2002, murders of 40-year-old Janet Moore and 24-year-old store clerk Sharath Pulluru in separate incidents. In March, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted against recommending clemency for Smith. Ahead of the hearing, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond asked the board to vote against clemency, saying he killed two people in a "double-murder spree simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time." On Thursday, Drummond released a statement on Smith's execution.“I pray that today brings some measure of peace for the families of Janet Miller-Moore and Sharath Pulluru. It has been a long and difficult 22 years for their loved ones, and my heart aches over the agony they have endured.“I want the people of Oklahoma to know that the victims of Michael Smith were good and decent people who did not deserve their fate. Janet, a loving mother and dedicated hospital staffer, was a rock for her family. She was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, an ear to anyone who needed to feel heard, and a kind word to anyone who was struggling. | MORE | Family of death row inmate Michael Smith says case is riddled with inconsistencies “Sharath, a bright young man with a generous spirit, was the first in his family to come to the United States to pursue an education. He was fun to be around, was an inspiration to his family, and had a promising future.“Janet and Sharath were murdered simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time; that was all. I am grateful that justice has been served.”Smith's family delivered a petition to the governor on Wednesday, asking him to do whatever he can. His family said new evidence in Smith's case showed that witnesses were being coerced during the trial.Before Thursday's execution, Smith released a statement saying, "My life is on the line. Despite new evidence, my attorney Mark Henricksen has informed my family that he will be filing no further appeals on my behalf. I am releasing this statement to demand that Mr. Henricksen do his job and fight for my life."Top Headlines From homelessness to Final Four history, Fisk forward Jeremiah Armstead being honored for courage Community searches for answers after 2 women disappeared from Oklahoma Panhandle Video: Dad comes up with adorable ritual to avoid meltdowns over what 5-year-old daughter wears A decade after retirement, Oklahoma baseball coach gets surprise 900th win Crowd twice as big as McCurtain County will take over southeastern Oklahoma during solar eclipse
MCALESTER, Okla. — The state of Oklahoma has executed death row inmate Michael Dewayne Smith for killing two people in separate incidents in February of 2002.
| MORE | Oklahoma group protesting Thursday's execution of death row inmate Michael Dewayne Smith
Smith, 41, was executed Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He had been on death row for the Feb. 22, 2002, murders of 40-year-old Janet Moore and 24-year-old store clerk Sharath Pulluru in separate incidents.
In March, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted against recommending clemency for Smith. Ahead of the hearing, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond asked the board to vote against clemency, saying he killed two people in a "double-murder spree simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
On Thursday, Drummond released a statement on Smith's execution.
“I pray that today brings some measure of peace for the families of Janet Miller-Moore and Sharath Pulluru. It has been a long and difficult 22 years for their loved ones, and my heart aches over the agony they have endured.
“I want the people of Oklahoma to know that the victims of Michael Smith were good and decent people who did not deserve their fate. Janet, a loving mother and dedicated hospital staffer, was a rock for her family. She was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, an ear to anyone who needed to feel heard, and a kind word to anyone who was struggling.
| MORE | Family of death row inmate Michael Smith says case is riddled with inconsistencies
“Sharath, a bright young man with a generous spirit, was the first in his family to come to the United States to pursue an education. He was fun to be around, was an inspiration to his family, and had a promising future.
“Janet and Sharath were murdered simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time; that was all. I am grateful that justice has been served.”
Smith's family delivered a petition to the governor on Wednesday, asking him to do whatever he can. His family said new evidence in Smith's case showed that witnesses were being coerced during the trial.
Before Thursday's execution, Smith released a statement saying, "My life is on the line. Despite new evidence, my attorney Mark Henricksen has informed my family that he will be filing no further appeals on my behalf. I am releasing this statement to demand that Mr. Henricksen do his job and fight for my life."
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