HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - A condemned man who won an unprecedented reprieve from Gov. George W. Bush for DNA tests that only confirmed his guilt was executed Wednesday for killing his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Ricky McGinn, 43, received a lethal injection for raping Stephanie Flanary and bludgeoning her with an ax. He insisted evidence was planted or tampered with, but DNA tests completed in August again linked McGinn to the 1993 crime.
The McGinn case drew attention because of the June 1 reprieve granted by Bush, the Republican presidential candidate who has been criticized for allowing executions to continue in his home state while he campaigns as a ''compassionate conservative.''
It was the first time he had used his authority as Texas governor to issue a 30-day reprieve to a condemned killer.
Since 1982, when Texas resumed carrying out executions, 231 preceded McGinn to the death chamber. Texas is on pace to execute 40 people this year, which would break the record of 37 executed three years ago.
Bush has said no innocent person has been put to death in Texas during his five-plus years in office.
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On the Net:
Texas prison system link: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us
