Honie’s attorneys: The whole process was shrouded in secrecy

SALT LAKE CITY — Taberon Honie’s attorneys are asking Utah Governor Spencer Cox to step in to delay his execution.

Honie is set for lethal injection Wednesday night. And attorneys for Taberon Honie are concerned about the drugs meant to be used for his lethal injection.

The defense claims that the process to make the change from what they’re calling “an experimental cocktail of drugs” to pentobarbital was rushed and reckless.

Utah law requires the use of sodium thiopental or an equally effective substance to cause death is cases of lethal injection.

Sodium thiopental has not been available for years. The Department of Correction turned to pentobarbital as an ” equally effective substance”, costing about 20,000 dollars. 

In a letter to the governor Honie’s attorneys described the process as shrouded in secrecy.

Now Honie’s attorneys want a temporary reprieve for Honie while the governor orders a review of the corrections department. They even asked the governor to direct the Department of Corrections to change its protocols.

A statement from the Department of Corrections said that the claim by Honie’s defense is a false one. A spokesman said they approach their responsibility with the utmost care and professionalism.

In the statement, the department pointed out the defense actually suggested pentobarbital as an acceptable alternative. They also pointed out they’ve been “meticulously planning this process for several months”.

Related: 

• Honie commutation hearing focuses on generational trauma 
• Honie death sentence upheld by Board of Pardons ruling
• Lawsuit filed by death row inmate’s attorneys dismissed

 

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