McAlester, Oklahoma: The state of Oklahoma carried out its first execution of the year as 41-year-old Michael Dewayne Smith was executed via lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Smith was convicted for the shooting deaths of Indian national Sharath Pulluru and Janet Moore in 2002, with the prosecutor stating that justice has been served after a long 22-year wait for the victims’ families.
Smith’s victims, Pulluru and Moore, were described by the Attorney General as good and decent people who did not deserve their tragic fate. Pulluru, a young man pursuing education in the United States, was remembered for his generous spirit and promising future. The tragic murders were said to have occurred because the victims were in the wrong place at the wrong time, adding to the grief and loss experienced by their families.
The families of both victims expressed gratitude that justice was finally served after years of waiting. They shared how the sudden and violent deaths of Pulluru and Moore had deeply affected their lives and that the pain of their loss would forever remain with them. Despite new evidence presented, Smith’s attorney chose not to file further appeals on his behalf, leading to his execution.
Oklahoma had previously halted executions in 2017 due to issues with the process, including botched executions that drew widespread criticism. The state, known for having the highest number of executions per capita in the United States, plans to proceed with executing a significant number of prisoners in the coming years. The past problems during executions have sparked debates about the ethics and effectiveness of the death penalty in the state.
As Smith’s final moments approached, he chose not to deliver any last words, signaling the end of a chapter in a long legal battle. The state’s decision to resume executions raises questions about the future of capital punishment in Oklahoma and reignites conversations about the impact of such actions on the victims’ families and the wider community. The execution of Michael Dewayne Smith serves as a somber reminder of the complex and controversial nature of the justice system in the United States.