USA - Texas. Willie Pondexter, 34, black, was executed

Willie Pondexter, 34, black, was executed. Pondexter was 1 of 2 men condemned for the Oct. 28, 1993 murder of Martha Lennox, 85, white. Pondexter acknowledged shooting the old woman, but said he didn't fire the fatal shot. Pondexter said a companion, James Leon Henderson, 35, shot Lennox first and then gave the gun to him to fire the 2nd shot. Pondexter and Henderson received the death penalty. 3 others accomplices received prison terms. Pondexter becomes the 9th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Texas and the 432nd overall since the state resumed capital punishment on December 7, 1982. Pondexter becomes the16th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1152nd overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.