The state of Tennessee executed its oldest death row inmate yesterday for the murder of his wife and her two teenage sons.
The 75-year-old Oscar Franklin Smith was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife Judith Robirds Smith and her two teenage sons from a previous marriage, Chad Burnett and Jason Burnett, in Nashville back in 1989.
Smith has always maintained that he was innocent in the murder of the trio.
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He was executed via lethal injection on May 22 and before his death gave a lengthy and scathing remark condemning the government and the legal system.
He also took shots at the Governor Bill Lee who made the last minute decision to stop his execution back in 2022.
Smith said: “Somebody needs to tell the governor the justice system doesn't work.
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“He's a damned fool if he doesn't realize we've got [innocent] men at Riverbend waiting to die.
“I'm not the first, and I won't be the last.”
He also allegedly repeatedly insisted that ‘he didn’t kill her’ in the moments before he stopped showing visible signs of breathing.
He was pronounced dead 10.47am local time.
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Following the execution of Smith, the victims’ family spoke to the media and thanked law enforcement for carrying out the death sentence.
Sister of Robirds Smith, Terri Osborne said: “The pain of losing Judy, Chad and Jason is something that we will continue to carry.
“These are memories and wounds that will never fully heal.”
Osborne also spoke about the dangers of domestic abuse and said she hopes the case is a call to action to those in abusive or violent relationships to leave their abuser.
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She did clarify that she is well aware that doing so is 'an incredibly hard thing to [do], leave a spouse who is abusing'.
She added: “Through our heartbreak we are reminded of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
“For those who may be living in fear or in the grip of abuse please know that you are not alone.
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“We also pray for more resources and support will be made available to those who need that helping hand.”
Robirds Smith's brother Mike Robirds concluded their statement by saying: "No one should have to live in fear like our sister did, and no family should have to endure a loss like ours."
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247
Gerrard Kaonga