The family of an Ohio inmate has sued the state and a pharmaceutical company following the inmate's prolonged execution last week.
The estate of death row inmate Dennis McGuire says the prisoner suffered cruel and unusual punishment during his 26-minute execution, the longest since Ohio resumed putting inmates to death 15 years ago.
The federal lawsuit filed late Friday seeks to have Ohio's new two-drug injection method declared unconstitutional, and also seeks damages from the drug maker that produced the medications.
McGuire snorted and gasped for several minutes after the chemicals began flowing Jan. 16.
It remains unclear what McGuire experienced. The Associated Press observed him appearing to fall unconscious and remaining so while he snorted, gasped and opened and shut his mouth.
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