Alabama Executes James Barber for Heinous Murder, Resuming Lethal Injections

Alabama executed James Barber by lethal injection for the murder of Dorothy Epps, marking the state's first execution following a review of procedures. Barber, who confessed to killing Epps with a claw hammer in 2001, was pronounced dead at 1:56 a.m. His execution proceeded despite his attorneys' request for a stay, citing concerns about the state's lethal injection process. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey had ordered a review of procedures after previous botched executions. The state was cleared to resume executions in February.