HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Sep 13 (Reuters) Texas executed a former addict for the 1991 murder of a 52-year-old Houston paint contractor who refused to hand over money for the man's drug habit.
Farley Charles Matchett, 43, was condemned for robbing and killing Uries Anderson in his Houston home. Anderson was stabbed and struck in the head numerous times with a hammer.
The July 12, 1991, murder capped a three-day crime spree during which Matchett killed a 74-year-old Huntsville woman, also by striking her with a hammer, and beat another elderly woman while stealing money and other items to support his 600 dollars-a-day crack cocaine habit.
Matchett was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Melonee Josey of Huntsville and given 74 years in prison for the beating of Ola Mac Williams.
Matchett, then 29, was arrested a few days after Anderson's death, trying to cash forged checks. Matchett had a lengthy criminal record, dating back to the age of 13.
His case drew interest from opponents of the death penalty. In July, French film star Brigitte Bardot wrote Texas Gov. Rick Perry asking for Matchett to be pardoned.
While strapped to a gurney in the death chamber shortly before his lethal injection yesterday, Matchett asked his family for forgiveness. To the families of his victims who witnessed the execution, Matchett said, ''find peace and cancellation with my death and move on.'' Matchett was the 21st person executed in Texas this year and the 376th put to death in the state since it resumed capital punishment in 1982, six years after the US Supreme Court lifted a national death penalty ban. Both totals lead the nation.
For his last meal, Matchett requested four olives and a bottle of wild-berry flavored water.
Texas has six more executions scheduled this year.
REUTERS VJ RAI0640
Farley Charles Matchett, 43, was condemned for robbing and killing Uries Anderson in his Houston home. Anderson was stabbed and struck in the head numerous times with a hammer.
The July 12, 1991, murder capped a three-day crime spree during which Matchett killed a 74-year-old Huntsville woman, also by striking her with a hammer, and beat another elderly woman while stealing money and other items to support his 600 dollars-a-day crack cocaine habit.
Matchett was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Melonee Josey of Huntsville and given 74 years in prison for the beating of Ola Mac Williams.
Matchett, then 29, was arrested a few days after Anderson's death, trying to cash forged checks. Matchett had a lengthy criminal record, dating back to the age of 13.
His case drew interest from opponents of the death penalty. In July, French film star Brigitte Bardot wrote Texas Gov. Rick Perry asking for Matchett to be pardoned.
While strapped to a gurney in the death chamber shortly before his lethal injection yesterday, Matchett asked his family for forgiveness. To the families of his victims who witnessed the execution, Matchett said, ''find peace and cancellation with my death and move on.'' Matchett was the 21st person executed in Texas this year and the 376th put to death in the state since it resumed capital punishment in 1982, six years after the US Supreme Court lifted a national death penalty ban. Both totals lead the nation.
For his last meal, Matchett requested four olives and a bottle of wild-berry flavored water.
Texas has six more executions scheduled this year.
REUTERS VJ RAI0640
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