The US state of Indiana today executed a former drug dealer convicted of killing a young couple in 1983.
Marvin Bieghler (58) died at 2.17am. (7.17 Irish time) following an injection of lethal chemicals at the Indiana State Prison.
His final words to the prison officials preparing for the execution were: "Let's get it over with."
Bieghler was convicted of killing Tommy Miller (20) and his pregnant wife Kimberly (19). He shot both execution-style because he thought the husband had informed on his drug dealings, prosecutors said.
He was put to death after the US Supreme Court, by a vote of 6-3, vacated a stay of execution granted by the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday.
Bieghler was given a meal of his request on Wednesday which included black bean soup, mushroom Dijon, blooming onion, salad, New York steak, chicken breast, shrimp, baked potato, cheesecake and a soft drink.
He requested and received cigarettes. The prison normally suspends its no-smoking policy for inmates before execution.
Bieghler had denied committing the killings, but the Indiana Parole Board voted earlier in the week against recommending clemency.
Republican Gov Mitch Daniels denied his petition for clemency. It was the 1,008th execution in the United States since 1976 when the death penalty was restored, and the 17th in Indiana during that time period.