The state of South Dakota has executed a death sentence against a convicted murderer. 63-year-old Charles Rhines died after being given lethal injection in Sioux Falls Prison.
It's the 18th US execution this year - and the first in South Dakota since 2018.
Rhines was convicted of murder in 1992. In May of that year he stabbed the employee of a donut shop. The then 22-year-old Donnivan Schaeffer had surprised Rhines, who had broken into the restaurant. A jury sentenced Rhines to death in January 1993.
South Dakota Department of Corrections / AFP
Undated photo of Charles Rhines: "If he is gay, then we would send him to where he wants to go."
Shortly before the execution, three appeals had been filed with the US Supreme Court, all of which were rejected. Rhine's lawyers asked the court to re-examine the evidence. Rhines was gay - that would have known the jury members. They would have sentenced him to death, otherwise he could enjoy life in prison with other men.
The lawyers also gave corresponding comments. According to the New York Times, a jury member said, "If he's gay, we'd send him to where he wants to go." Similarly, according to a female colleague.
The Supreme Court dismissed the motion without comment. One of the lawyers, Rhines, said it was sad and deeply unjust to execute Rhines without seeing evidence of discrimination against homosexuals that would have affected the jury's decision.
Executions since 1976
Before his death, Rhines said to the victim's parents that he forgave them for their anger and anger. He prayed to God, so that he too forgives them. Then he thanked his supporters. His last words were: "Let's start, that's all I have to say, goodbye".
The family of the victim spoke after the execution before journalists. The relatives made it clear that they did not want to say a word about the perpetrator. "Today is the day we talk about Donnivan, the man who loved his family, his fiancée and his friends," said the mother of the victim, Patty Schaeffer.
AP
Sheila Pond Jackson talks about the victim, her fiancé
When asked about the murderer's last words, Schaeffer said she had forgiven him. "If I start hating then I would not be here anymore, then I would not be the person I am."
Rhines was calm in his execution. The lethal injection worked after a minute. He was pronounced dead on Monday at 19:39 (local time).