The last words of hundreds of death row inmates have been revealed for the first time

[BURNING MAN]

Authorities in Texas, where more people have been executed than in any other US state, have published the last statements of everyone put to death since 1982.

The most recent of the 441 final statements is that of Christopher Coleman, who was killed by lethal injection last week.

The 38-year-old, who was convicted of killing three men during a drug deal, simply said: "Yes. Ain't no way fo' fo', I love all y'all."

The majority of those about to be killed maintained their innocence, including Willie Pondexter who was executed in March this year.

"They may execute me but they can't punish me because they can't execute an innocent man," he said.

Pondexter, 35, was convicted of shooting an 85-year-old woman in the head during a burglary.

After shooting the woman the intruder took $18 from her purse, and fled in her car.

A number of inmates used their last words to make a protest against capital punishment.

"I ask each of you to lift up your voices to demand an end to the Death Penalty," said Johnny Johnson, who was convicted of the rape and murder of a young woman in 1995.

"If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die we die to the Lord. Christ rose again, in Jesus name.

"Bye Aunt Helen, Luise, Joanna and to all the rest of y'all. You may proceed Warden."

Leonel Herrera was convicted of the murder of a police officer who stopped him for speeding in 1981.

Before his execution in 1993, he said he was "innocent, innocent, innocent."

"Make no mistake about this: I owe society nothing. Continue the struggle for human rights, helping those who are innocent.

"I am an innocent man, and something very wrong is taking place tonight."
"May God bless you all. I am ready."

But Newton Anderson, who was executed in February 2007, was candid about his crime.

"I am guilty," he said. "I don't deny that. They had good evidence. Witnesses saw me. What can I say?"

The 33-year-old shot and killed a couple during a burglary at their home in 1999.

In the same month, James Jackson, who was convicted of the murder of his partner and two stepdaughters, said: "See you on the other side. Warden, murder me."

Texas has already executed 18 people this year, and has more than 300 inmates on Death Row.

The publication of the 'last words' comes a week after the botched execution of 53-year-old Romell Broom in Ohio.

His execution was called off after staff failed to find a vein to administer the lethal combination of drugs into his body.

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[kidflash2008]

Considering all the new evidence from DNA that has released hundreds of former prisoners, I would not doubt that many of those men were really innocent of those crimes.

It is sad that the United States is now the only industrial country that still executes people. (Japan's new government will not sign any death warrants, effectively ending the death penalty there.)