Ohio prepares for 1st lethal injection in US using 1 drug after brief delay for final appeal

Ohio prepares for 1st US 1-drug execution

LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Ohio has begun final preparations for executing the first person in the U.S. to die by lethal injection with a single drug rather than a three-drug method.

The execution of Kenneth Biros, originally scheduled for 10 a.m., was delayed about an hour while Biros awaited word from the U.S. Supreme Court on a last emergency appeal.

The court turned down Biros shortly before 10 a.m. and prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn said the execution would begin about an hour later.

In a brief statement Tuesday, the court said it was denying Kenneth Biros’ request for a stay of execution.

Biros had argued the state’s new method would be painful. The state’s switch to one drug was meant to end a lawsuit that claims the three-drug system could cause severe pain, and experts have agreed that the single anesthetic will not cause pain.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to block the execution of an Ohio condemned killer who would become the first person in the U.S. to die by lethal injection with a single drug rather than a three-drug method.

In a brief statement Tuesday, the court said it was denying Kenneth Biros’ request for a stay of execution.

Biros had argued the state’s new method would be painful. The state’s switch to one drug was meant to end a lawsuit that claims the three-drug system could cause severe pain, and experts have agreed that the single anesthetic will not cause pain.