Execution Report: Adam Ward

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A jury found Ward guilty of capital murder in June 2007 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in February 2010. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied. The U.S. Supreme court declined several opportunities to review Ward's case, including an appeal filed hours before his death.

"This man charged up and tried to attack me," Ward said in an interview from death row a few weeks before his execution. "Long story short, my case is a case of self-defense, but there are cops there in that town that have tampered with evidence, they have removed evidence, they have added evidence to the scene." The interview did not provide any details about what evidence Ward alleged had been tampered with.

"I think the only thing he was there for was harassment," Ward continued. "Whenever you've been harassed, you take preventative measures if you have to. I was matching force with force, when this man had pulled a gun on me and he pointed it at me and was fixing to shoot me, which is self-defense."

The victim's father, Dick Walker, attended Ward's execution. Mr. Walker was an emergency medical technician at the time of his son's murder and was the first medic to arrive at the scene of the shooting.

In his last statement, Ward said putting him to death was wrong because "At no time did I intend to hurt him." He did, however, say he hoped Walker's two children could find "love and peace." He also thanked his friends and supporters and apologized to his family for "putting them through this."

"I thank everyone. I am sorry things didn't work out," he said. "May God forgive us all. I am sorry, mother. I am sorry, father. I hope you find peace and solace in your heart."

The lethal injection was then started. As the pentobarbital began to take effect, he said, "I feel it." He then closed his eyes and lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m.

Afterward, Dick Walker said, "In almost the eleven years of total mental anguish with appeal after appeal, it has weighed on me both physically and emotionally. Tonight I received some closure, but he still didn't take responsibility for what he did."

By David Carson. Posted on 23 March 2016.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, public records, Associated Press, Huntsville Item.