The witnesses were separated from Sims by a glass partition. The hooded executioner, who stayed out of sight behind a two-way mirror, administered the lethal dose of drugs as 30 witnesses, including a dozen reporters, one of Sims' attorneys and his rabbi, watched. Sims continued to talk, apparently directing his words toward his spiritual adviser Rabbi David Kane of Ormond Beach who was seated in the front row of the witness chamber. Jeb Bush, warden Crosby nodded to the executioner to begin.
Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976.Īfter a brief telephone conversation with Gov. Instead of another last-minute stay like he received in October, Sims became the 45th person executed in Florida since the U.S. Evidence pointing to a 'look-alike' suspect were second-hand statements and accounts that one judge called flimsy. Though he maintained his innocence until the end, Sims' attorneys could not persuade the courts to accept arguments the state was executing the wrong man. Amen,' before Florida State Prison warden James Crosby Jr.
Sims then said 'Peace and happiness and love to all of you.
He could be heard mentioning 'Jewish faith' before saying several things in Hebrew. 'I'm not guilty of the charge of murder, and I do stand before my God,' Sims said before his voice trailed off.
