Utah officials have decided to change their plans for the upcoming execution of a man convicted in a 1998 murder case. The initial plan to use an untested lethal drug combination has been scrapped, and instead, they will opt for a drug that has been used in executions in several states.
The decision came after defense attorneys for the defendant raised concerns about the potential for 'excruciating suffering' due to the original drug combination. The execution, scheduled for August 8, will mark Utah's first since 2010 when Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad.
