The recent execution of Roy Willard Blankenship in Georgia using pentobarbital was reminiscent of that of Mr Diaz

Florida’s recent history has seen a number of botched executions, notably that of Angel Diaz in 2006 which resulted in then-Governor Jeb Bush suspending all executions and establishing a commission to look into the issue, leading to a two-year hiatus.
The recent execution of Roy Willard Blankenship in Georgia using pentobarbital was reminiscent of that of Mr Diaz – both men grimaced, struggled and appeared to be inadequately anaesthetised. Harvard anaesthesiologist Dr David Waisel has said that, judging by eyewitness accounts, Mr Blankenship was “inadequately anesthetized” and “suffered greatly”. He has warned that “Mr. Blankenship’s reaction to the pentobarbital injection may be indicative of other inmates’ reactions.”
As Mr Valle’s is set to be in Florida, Mr Blankenship’s execution was the first to be carried out in Georgia using pentobarbital. Concerns over excessive suffering as a result of the new drug have also seen legal challenges, stays, and even the videotaping of an execution in other states.

Manuel Valle is a Cuban national

Manuel Valle is a Cuban national with Spanish links, who has now been on death row for 33 years. He has been denied proper clemency proceedings, and (similarly to the recent case of Humberto Leal in Texas) did not receive the consular assistance to which he was entitled.

Reprive

eFor more information please contact Donald Campbell or Katherine O'Shea at Reprieve’s Press Office: donald.campbell@reprieve.org.uk / +44 (0) 20 7427 1082 / (0) 7791 755 415 / katherine.oshea@reprieve.org.uk / +44 (0) 20 7427 1099 / (0) 7931 592 674.

The “thrashing, jerking death of Roy Willard Blankenship” during which “his eyes never closed”.

An eyewitness from the Associated Press has described the “thrashing, jerking death of Roy Willard Blankenship” during which “his eyes never closed”. The full text of Dr David Waisel’s affidavit on Roy Blankenship’s inadequate anaesthesia can be found on Reprieve's website

Judge Scola has already conducted an "evidentiary hearing on paper,

Scola has already made determinations based on the factual and credibility findings
of an Oklahoma court that "were not persuaded by the testimony of Dr. Waisel"
and who "determined that his concerns about the efficacy of pentobarbital were
unfounded." Moreover, Judge Scola has already determined, based on evidence
presented in Oklahoma, that Dr. Dershwitz "persuasively responded to Dr. [David]
Waisel's testimony."

http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/11/11-1434/Filed_07-26-2011_Emergency_Petitiondf.pdf

1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5. Mr. Valle fears that he will not receive a full and fair hearing before Judge
   Jacqueline Hogan Scola because she has already made credibility findings of the
   witnesses that Mr. Valle anticipates will testifY at the evidentiary hearing ordered
6. by this Court.

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR A WRIT OF PROHIBITION

http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/11/11-1434/Filed_07-26-2011_Emergency_Petitiondf.pdf
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR A WRIT OF PROHIBITION

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
NO.SC11-__
MANUEL VALLE,
Petitioner,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Respondent.
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR A WRIT OF PROHIBITION
DEATH WARRANT SIGNED
EVIDENTIARY HEARING SET FOR THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011
NEAL A. DUPREE
Capital Collateral Regional
Counsel-South
SUZANNE KEFFER
Chief Assistant CCRC-South
CAPITAL COLLATERAL REGIONAL
COUNSEL-SOUTH
101 N.E. 3rd Avenue, Suite 400
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
(954) 713-1284
COUNSEL FOR MR. VALLE