European Union Blocks Execution of Convicted Murderer…in Missouri

The governor of Missouri announced Friday he would postpone the execution of convicted murderer Allen Nicklasson, who was originally scheduled to die Oct. 23.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is halting the execution of convicted killer Allen Nicklasson, citing concerns about the use of propofol as an execution drug. Nixon also ordered the Missouri Department of Corrections to come up with a different way to perform lethal injection that does not include propofol. Nicklasson's execution on Oct. 23 was scheduled to be the first-ever using propofol, the leading anesthetic used in America's hospitals in clinics. (AP)

Gov. Jay Nixon made the decision after the European Union threatened to cut off shipments of propofol, a common surgical anesthetic, if the execution moved forward. It was to be the first time ever that a lethal dosage of propofol was used in an execution.

If shipments of propofol are blocked, it would impact hospitals in Missouri. As TheBlaze previously reported, the EU threat extends to other death penalty states regarding European-made drugs used for lethal injection.

Nixon, a Democrat, said he is “making sure justice is served and public health is protected,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The governor said he asked the Department of Corrections to change to a different form of lethal drug, and said Attorney General Chris Koster would request a new execution date for Nicklasson.

Nicklasson was convicted of killing a man who stopped to help along Interstate 70 in Missouri after Nicklasson’s car broke down, the Post-Dispatch reported. Nicklasson later killed two more Good Samaritans in Arizona.

Propofol is the anesthetic blamed for pop star Michael Jackson’s 2009 death.

(H/T St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

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