Serial killer put to death in New England

A serial killer who struggled to hasten his own death – and was forced to prove he wasn’t out of his mind – was put to death today in New England’s first execution in 45 years.

Michael Ross, aged 45, died by lethal injection in Somers, Connecticut, after fighting off attempts by public defenders, death penalty foes and his own family to save his life.

His was the 22nd execution in the US in 2005. In McAlester, Oklahoma, a man convicted of beating and stabbing an Oklahoma City motel clerk and pouring acid down his throat was put to death yesterday. There were 59 executions last year in America.

Ross was sent to death row for the murders of four young women and girls in Connecticut in the 1980s, and confessed to four more such murders in Connecticut and New York. He also raped most of the women.

Yesterday, a federal appeals court in New York and the US Supreme Court rebuffed a lawsuit brought on behalf of Ross’ father that claimed the execution would lead to a wave of suicide attempts among Connecticut inmates.

The courts also rejected an attempt by Ross’ sister to intervene in his case and stop the execution.

Death penalty opponents warned that Ross’ execution could break down a political and psychological barrier against capital punishment in New England and start a domino effect in the region.