Jerome Mallett, who oncestarred in Benetton's anti-death penalty campaign, was executed bylethal injection early today at Missouri's PotosiCorrectional Center.
A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections saidMallett (42) was pronounced dead at 12:07 a m.(4.07 a.m. Irish time).
His last words expressed regrets to the family of the highwaytrooper he shot to death in March 1985. Mallet said he hoped hisdeath would be a learning experience, his spokesperson said.
Mallett killed Missouri highway trooper James Froemsdorf afterhe wasstopped on the road and placed under arrest for anoutstanding arrest warrant on a jewelry store robbery a monthearlier.
Mallett was able to squeeze one hand out of the handcuffs andafter a struggle, grabbed the officer's gun and shot him threetimes.
Captured the next day, he never denied the shooting but claimedit was accidental. He later claimed he acted in self defense.
Froemsdorf left a wife and three children, some of whomwitnessedMallett's execution. Mallett's photograph and story were centerpieces in Italianclothing maker Benetton's anti-capital punishment campaign launchedin January 2000, which included billboards in Times Square and astory in Colorsmagazine.
The Missouri Attorney General sued the company formisrepresentation, claiming that the photographers and writersentered the prison under the guise of journalists, not advertisingproducers.
The state on June 16thsettled the lawsuit out of court. Benettonagreed to pay $50,000 to a fund for crime victims.
AFP