PENA DI MORTE: USA, ESECUZIONE IN VIRGINIA TRIPLICE OMICIDA AVEVA RINUNCIATO A PRESENTARE APPELLO

  WASHINGTON, 19 AGO - E' stato messo a morte in un carcere della Virginia James Hudson, colpevole di avere ucciso tre vicini di casa due anni fa per una disputa sulla manutenzione del vialetto del garage condiviso dalle due abitazioni adiacenti.

      Hudson, 57 anni, non aveva presentato alcun appello dopo la condanna a morte e non ha chiesto clemenza al governatore della Virginia. E' stato messo a morte ieri sera nel carcere di Jarratt con una iniezione. Il condannato si e' rifiutato di fare una dichiarazione finale.

      Nel luglio 2002, durante un diverbio con un vicino di casa, aveva estratto un fucile dal suo veicolo uccidendo l'uomo, sparando inoltre al fratello della vittima, che si trovava accanto, e alla moglie del vicino, che stava curando le piante nel giardino dietro la casa.

      La esecuzione di Hudson e' la quarta dell'anno in Virginia. 

A Halifax County man who pleaded guilty to killing 3 neighbors in a long-running dispute over a driveway was executed Wednesday night.

James Bryant Hudson, 57, died by lethal injection at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt at 9:07 p.m.

Hudson shuffled to the gurney with the help of 2 guards, who supported him under his arms. He was wearing a light blue button-down shirt and dark blue pants. His gray hair was neatly combed.

When asked if he had any final words, Hudson said in a clear voice, "No sir."

The inmate did not meet with any family or his attorneys on Wednesday.

Hudson pleaded guilty to shooting brothers Walter Stanley Cole, 56, and Thomas Wesley Cole, 64, and Wesley's wife, Patsy Ayers Cole, 64, outside their Halifax County home in July 2002.

Hudson gave up his final appeals and did not file a petition for clemency with Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner. Warner issued a statement earlier Wednesday saying he would not intervene in the execution.

The acrimonious dispute over the driveway Hudson and the Cole brothers shared began after Hudson's father sold a parcel of land to the Coles 5 miles from the North Carolina border, said Hudson's attorney, Buddy Ward.

Ward said Hudson maintained the right to use a road that ran through the Coles' property to get to his home, but he frequently complained that the Coles were not taking care of it.

Former Halifax Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker, who prosecuted the case, said the Coles were driving along the road on July 3, 2002, when they encountered Hudson's truck blocking the way. A farm worker testified that Hudson and Wesley Cole exchanged words, then Hudson grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun out of his truck and shot Stanley Cole as he sat in the front seat.

Wesley Cole tried to flee, but tripped and fell in a ditch. Hudson shot him in the back of the head.

Greenbacker said Hudson then drove to Wesley Cole's house next door and found his wife, Patsy, gardening. A neighbor testified that Patsy Cole called out to Hudson and Hudson opened fire.

He drove off and was arrested after a 23-hour manhunt.

Hudson refused to allow Ward to call any witnesses at his trial. He was convicted of two counts of capital murder for killing the Cole brothers, and one count of first-degree murder for killing Patsy Cole.

Stanley Cole owned the South Boston Livestock Market for more than 20 years and was president of the Percheron Horse Association of Virginia. He was also a cattle and tobacco farmer.

Wesley Cole was a retired plant manager for Burlington Industries and Patsy Cole was a retired medical lab technologist.

Hudson's execution was the fourth in Virginia this year and the 93rd since the state resumed executions in 1982 following a 20-year hiatus. Because Hudson gave up his final appeals, he was only on death row for only 16 months. The Department of Corrections said the average length of time for inmates on death row prior to execution is 7.1 years.

Hudson becomes the 4th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Virginia and the 93rd overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982. Virginia trails only Texas (323) in the number of executions since the death penalty was re-legalized in America on July 2, 1976.

Hudson becomes the 39th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 924th overall since America resumed executions on January 17, 1977.