Jemaine Cannon, a 51-year-old man, was executed in Oklahoma on Thursday for the brutal murder of Sharonda Clark in 1995. Cannon had escaped from a prison work center and was living with Clark in Tulsa before the incident occurred. He used a butcher knife to stab Clark to death, leaving behind two young children who would grow up without a mother.
The execution took place at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, where Cannon received a lethal injection at 10:01 a.m. He was pronounced dead just 12 minutes later. This was the second execution in Oklahoma in 2023, and the ninth since the state began using lethal injections again.
Cannon’s violent criminal history was a significant factor in his death sentence. Prior to murdering Clark, he had been serving a 15-year sentence for a brutal assault on another woman. Prosecutors described how he had raped and brutally beaten her with a claw hammer, iron, and kitchen toaster, causing permanent injuries. This earlier crime added weight to the case against him and further demonstrated his capacity for violence.
Despite Cannon’s attempts to delay the execution, including a last-minute appeal claiming he was not subject to Oklahoma jurisdiction due to his Native American heritage, the federal appeals court denied his request for a stay of execution. Before his death, when asked if he had any last words, Cannon expressed his faith, saying, “Yes, I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore I am saved. Thank you.”
In Alabama, on the same day as Cannon’s execution, the state was preparing to carry out its first lethal injection since problematic IV insertions led to a pause in executions. James Barber faced execution for the 2001 beating death of a woman. The timing served as a reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding capital punishment and the methods used.
Yeh-Sehn White, Clark’s eldest daughter, and Shaya Duncan, Clark’s sister, were present at Cannon’s execution. While they described the process as peaceful, White expressed her deep sadness that her mother did not have a similar opportunity for a peaceful passing.
During a clemency hearing, Cannon claimed that he killed Clark in self-defense, a claim that was rejected by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Cannon’s attorney argued that his trial and appellate attorneys had been ineffective for not presenting evidence to support this claim. However, the lack of witnesses and exhibits presented during the trial was ultimately detrimental to his case.
Cannon’s attorney also painted a sympathetic picture of his client, highlighting the abuse and neglect he had endured throughout his life. He emphasized Cannon’s poor health, explaining that he was nearly deaf, blind, and approaching death due to natural causes. Despite these arguments, both White and prosecutors from the attorney general’s office urged the state to proceed with the execution.
Oklahoma employs a three-drug lethal injection protocol, consisting of midazolam, vecuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. The state had experienced problems with its execution process in the past, leading to a de facto moratorium. In 2014 and 2015, there were mix-ups with lethal drugs, including a botched execution where the inmate struggled for 43 minutes before dying. These incidents raised significant concerns and highlighted the need for careful execution protocols and procedures.
In conclusion, Jemaine Cannon’s execution for the murder of Sharonda Clark in 1995 serves as a reminder of the complex and contentious nature of capital punishment. While Cannon’s violent history and the gruesome nature of his crimes contributed to his sentence, the execution also sparks debates about the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty.
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