01-12-2017, 04:58 PM
Texas -- First Execution of 2017
![[Image: christopher_wilkins_4_1_JVA8CNIR_L282453249]](http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/p2b8bf/picture125969229/ALTERNATES/FREE_320/christopher_wilkins_4_1_JVA8CNIR_L282453249)
Christopher Wilkins, 48, was convicted of fatally shooting Willie Freeman, 40, and Mike Silva, 33, because he was angry that he was tricked into paying $20 for a rock disguised as a chuck of crack cocaine.
The Supreme Court earlier Wednesday refused to block his execution. Wilkins argued via appeals that his lawyers did a bad job of defending him against charges. He was executed and pronounced death at 6:29pm on January 11, 2017.
Wilkins admitted to the 2005 double slaying — and claimed he had committed another murder and other crimes — during the sentencing phase of his trial.
"I tend to want to take the easy way out," the ex-con truck driver told the court. "I make bad decisions. I know they're bad decisions when I'm making them. I make them anyway."
Before the lethal injection was administered, Christopher Wilkins twice mouthed "I'm sorry," to two relatives of one of the murder victims as they watched through a window Wednesday night.
Refs:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-...17-n705916
http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/inma...017/ntXtR/
Christopher Wilkins, 48, was convicted of fatally shooting Willie Freeman, 40, and Mike Silva, 33, because he was angry that he was tricked into paying $20 for a rock disguised as a chuck of crack cocaine.
The Supreme Court earlier Wednesday refused to block his execution. Wilkins argued via appeals that his lawyers did a bad job of defending him against charges. He was executed and pronounced death at 6:29pm on January 11, 2017.
Wilkins admitted to the 2005 double slaying — and claimed he had committed another murder and other crimes — during the sentencing phase of his trial.
"I tend to want to take the easy way out," the ex-con truck driver told the court. "I make bad decisions. I know they're bad decisions when I'm making them. I make them anyway."
Before the lethal injection was administered, Christopher Wilkins twice mouthed "I'm sorry," to two relatives of one of the murder victims as they watched through a window Wednesday night.
Refs:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-...17-n705916
http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/inma...017/ntXtR/