Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is preparing to carry out an execution this week for a man convicted of a double murder over twenty years ago. Michael DeWayne Smith, 41, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on Thursday. He would be the first person executed in the state this year and the 12th since capital punishment was reinstated in 2021.
Smith’s case dates back to February 22, 2002, when he was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal shootings of Janet Moore and Sharath Babu Pulluru in Oklahoma City. The victims were not Smith’s intended targets, as revealed during his trial in 2003. Smith, who was 19 at the time, was under the influence of PCP and evading police due to a previous murder warrant.
Despite claiming innocence and alleging drug-induced hallucinations led to a false confession, Smith’s appeals for clemency have repeatedly been denied, including by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. His execution is part of a trend in Oklahoma where the pace of executions has slowed after a period of heightened activity, prompting calls for more extended intervals between scheduled executions to alleviate strain on prison staff.
Smith’s impending execution is part of a broader debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States and the ethical implications of carrying out such sentences. As the nation grapples with issues of justice and retribution, cases like Smith’s serve as focal points for discussions on the criminal justice system and its application of capital punishment.
The execution of Michael DeWayne Smith underscores the complex nature of administering the death penalty, highlighting the moral, legal, and societal considerations that come into play in such cases. As Oklahoma prepares for another execution, the debate over the efficacy and necessity of the death penalty continues to evolve in the national discourse.