Kelly Gissendaner, 47, was executed in Georgia, making her the first woman in 70 years to suffer death sentence in the US southern state. Despite repeated appeals against the decision, including appeals from the Pope himself, and three recent execution stay appeals which were made only hours before she died, the US supreme court carried on with its initial decision, rejecting all 3 applications of execution stay stating “it was not granting clemencyâ€.
Kelly Gissendaner was held for planning, not killing Douglas Gissendaner, her husband. Her former lover Gregory Owen is serving life imprisonment for killing Mr Gissendaner as “part of a plea bargainâ€.
Before the execution, Kelly Gissendaner was heard singing Amazing Grace by witnesses before being given a lethal injection.
She was quoted as saying "Bless you all," "Tell the Gissendaner I am so, so sorry that an amazing man lost his life because of me. If I could take it all back, I would."