Who was Jedidiah Murphy? Texas man executed in death of 80-year-old Garland woman Bertie Lee Cunningham

Jedidiah Murphy, a Jewish man jailed in Texas on death row whose fight to avoid execution received support from well-known Jewish activists, was put to death late Tuesday.

He had been given a death sentence for the October 2000 shooting death of 80-year-old Bertie Lee Cunningham.

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Who was Jedidiah Murphy?

Jedidiah Murphy was 48 years old. He received a death sentence for the October 2000 shooting death of 80-year-old Bertie Lee Cunningham.

Although Murphy acknowledged the killing, he continuously insisted that he was not involved in two robberies or a kidnapping. This was used by the prosecution to convince jurors during Murphy’s death penalty phase of the trial that Murphy posed a future danger, which is a requirement under Texas law in order to receive the death penalty.

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DNA testing of the evidence presented at Murphy’s 2001 trial was requested by his defense team. Furthermore, they asked for a postponement of the execution on Tuesday afternoon, citing worries that the medications meant for the execution could have been tainted by a fire at the Huntsville State Penitentiary. On Tuesday, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Murphy was put to death in spite of their appeals.

Murphy in his statement said, “To the family of the victim I want to say I sincerely apologize for all I did. I hope this brings you closure.”

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After many last-minute legal ploys intended to spare Murphy, the execution by lethal injection went place late on Tuesday. 

Leading L’Chaim, a Jewish organization opposed to the death sentence, is Cantor Michael Zoosman. He used to be a prison chaplain. “I wish I could say it was a shock,” he said. Just before Murphy’s death warrant expired, in the last hours of his legal battle, he made this declaration at a vigil held for Zoom. The execution took place on World Day Against the Death Penalty, a day on which opponents of the death penalty highlight their objections.