USA - Alabama. James Harvey Callahan was executed today

James Harvey Callahan, 62, white, was executed today at Holman Correctional Facility. Callahan was convicted for the Feb. 3, 1982, kidnapping, rape and murder of Rebecca Suzanne Howell, 26. Almost a year ago Callahan won a last-minute stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court when the high court agreed to consider whether lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment (see 29/01/2008, 30/01/2008, 11/02/2008). Callahan becomes the 1st condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Alabama and the 39th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1983. Callahan becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1138th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.