AP: Texas

11/03/2004

By PAM EASTON  / Associated Press

A man condemned for the stabbing and beating of a 70-year-old Houston man was executed Tuesday night.

When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Lorenzo Morris replied, "No."

As the lethal drugs began to flow, Morris closed his eyes. His eyelids twitched as he took one deep breath and sputtered twice before being pronounced dead six minutes later at 6:13 p.m. CST.

Two of victim Jesse Fields' granddaughters and his daughter witnessed the execution. Morris' family visited with him earlier in the day but did not attend.

Morris had asked that no last-day appeals be filed to try to block his scheduled execution.

He requested a final meal of fried chicken and fish with bread and hot peppers. He also asked for pie, ice cream, soda and a pack of cigarettes. He got everything but the cigarettes, because the prison system is tobacco-free, said prison spokeswoman Michelle Lyons.

Morris' family had called the governor's office and sought a 30-day reprieve. After the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, Morris attorney Rob Morrow said Morris didn't want any last-minute appeals that he thought would be fruitless.