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| Anthony Boyd |
Former Anniston resident Anthony Boyd is a step closer to facing
execution than any of the 186 people currently on Alabama’s death row. A federal court rejected his most recent
appeal three weeks ago. Boyd, sentenced
to death for the 1993 murder of Anniston resident Gregory Huguley, is one of
several inmates for whom Alabama prosecutors sought execution dates last
year. Those executions didn’t happen.
Boyd and six other inmates, challenged Alabama’s lethal injection methods in
court. Alabama hasn’t executed an inmate since 2013, due to court challenges
and shortages of drugs. Boycotts by drugmakers have made execution drugs harder
for most states to get.
The tide seemed to turn against Alabama inmates' execution
challenges in the summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the use
of midazolam in Oklahoma. After the ruling, U.S. District Judge W. Keith
Watkins asked the Alabama inmates to suggest alternatives to Alabama’s
three-drug protocol that would be more humane.
Boyd asked to be executed by either hanging or the firing
squad, neither of which is allowed by Alabama law.
Watkins earlier this month rejected Boyd’s request – and
dismissed his case, leaving no clear legal barrier to his execution.
Court records show no new court challenge to Boyd’s
execution has been filed since the case was dismissed.
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