Florida has set an execution date of Septmeber 6 for Manuel Valle (pictured), a foreign national from Cuba who was deprived of his rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The European Union’s ambassador to the U.S. has asked Florida to halt the execution, and Florida’s Catholic Bishops have also requested clemency for Valle, saying, “Killing someone because they killed diminishes respect for life and promotes a culture of violence and vengeance.” The state plans to introduce the anesthetic pentobarbital for this execution, despite the fact that the manufacturer of the drug, Lundbeck, Inc., has asked Florida to refrain from such use, saying it “contradicts everything we are in business to do.” Valle has been on death row for about 33 years, raising other questions about cruel and unusual punishment in his case. In another case, a federal judge has found Florida’s statute to be unconstitutional. If that ruling is upheld on appeal, it could affect Valle’s case as well, but only if he is still alive. UPDATE: Valle’s execution has been stayed at least until Sept. 8 by a federal court to consider whether he was denied a clemency hearing. UPDATE: Stay of execution lifted; may proceed on Sept. 8.
(D. Kam, “Florida Supremes approve death drug,” Palm Beach Post, 8/23/11; P. McGuffin, “MPs’ call to stop execution,” Morning Star, 8/26/11.) See also Foreign Nationals and Lethal Injection.
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