Alabama executes inmate for the 1993 shotgun killing of ex-girlfriend while she slept

Alabama executes inmate who shot former girlfriend

ATMORE, Ala. — Alabama has executed a 50-year-old inmate for shooting his former girlfriend to death as she slept in 1993.

Prison officials say Holly Wood died by injection at 6:21 p.m. He had no last words. Two of his sisters witnessing the execution screamed, cried and prayed loudly.

Wood broke into the Troy home of his former girlfriend, 34-year-old Ruby Gosha, and shot the sleeping woman in the head with a shotgun.

His attorneys claimed he had an IQ of 70 or less and that his trial lawyers wrongly failed to tell the jury about his mental limitations. Prosecutors said he was not as mentally disabled as claimed. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his last appeal.

He was the fourth inmate executed in Alabama this year.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has executed a 50-year-old inmate for shooting his former girlfriend to death as she slept in 1993.

Prison officials say Holly Wood died by injection at 6:21 p.m. He had no last words. Two of his sisters witnessing the execution screamed, cried and prayed loudly.

Wood broke into the Troy home of his former girlfriend, 34-year-old Ruby Gosha, and shot the sleeping woman in the head with a shotgun.

His attorneys claimed he had an IQ of 70 or less and that his trial lawyers wrongly failed to tell the jury about his mental limitations. Prosecutors said he was not as mentally disabled as claimed. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his last appeal.

He was the fourth inmate executed in Alabama this year.