Post by Anja on Jun 7, 2006 21:47:09 GMT -5
Ax slayer apologizes before his execution
A former crack cocaine user who was on probation for auto theft when he
was arrested for capital murder apologized profusely Tuesday before he was
executed for the ax slaying of his girlfriend almost 14 years ago.
"There are no words to describe the pain and suffering you went through
all the years I've had. All these years, that is something that I cannot
take back from you all," Timothy Titsworth said as he was strapped to the
death chamber gurney.
"Today, I hope you get peace and joy. I'm sorry it's taken 14 years to
bring closure."
As the drug began taking effect, Titsworth said, "Here we go." Seven
minutes later at 6:20 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
Among those watching were his victim's mother and now 18-year-old
daughter.
Titsworth, 34, was the 11th prisoner executed this year in Texas, the
nation's most active capital punishment state.
Titsworth was convicted of unlawful use of a motor vehicle a month before
his 20th birthday in 1992 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. As a
first-time offender, however, he was released on probation after spending
more than two months at a boot camp.
Three months later he was arrested driving the car of Christine Marie
Sossaman, 26, whose body had been found at the mobile home she was sharing
with Titsworth. She had been struck some 16 times with a dull ax.
According to court records, a friend of Sossaman testified the victim told
her the day before she was killed that she intended to ask Titsworth to
leave because she believed her boyfriend had been stealing from her.
(source: Associated Press)
A former crack cocaine user who was on probation for auto theft when he
was arrested for capital murder apologized profusely Tuesday before he was
executed for the ax slaying of his girlfriend almost 14 years ago.
"There are no words to describe the pain and suffering you went through
all the years I've had. All these years, that is something that I cannot
take back from you all," Timothy Titsworth said as he was strapped to the
death chamber gurney.
"Today, I hope you get peace and joy. I'm sorry it's taken 14 years to
bring closure."
As the drug began taking effect, Titsworth said, "Here we go." Seven
minutes later at 6:20 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
Among those watching were his victim's mother and now 18-year-old
daughter.
Titsworth, 34, was the 11th prisoner executed this year in Texas, the
nation's most active capital punishment state.
Titsworth was convicted of unlawful use of a motor vehicle a month before
his 20th birthday in 1992 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. As a
first-time offender, however, he was released on probation after spending
more than two months at a boot camp.
Three months later he was arrested driving the car of Christine Marie
Sossaman, 26, whose body had been found at the mobile home she was sharing
with Titsworth. She had been struck some 16 times with a dull ax.
According to court records, a friend of Sossaman testified the victim told
her the day before she was killed that she intended to ask Titsworth to
leave because she believed her boyfriend had been stealing from her.
(source: Associated Press)