EXECUTION DAY: President of Indiana Abolition Coalition speaks out about decision to execute Joseph Corcoran

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The President of the Indiana Abolition Coalition says the decision to deny the motion to stay Joseph Corcoran’s execution is cruel and barbaric.

BACKGROUND: EXECUTION DAY: Indiana Supreme Court denies motion to stay Joseph Corcoran’s execution

David Frank, President of Indiana Abolition Coalition, says he doesn’t understand why executing Corcoran is necessary.

“Executing Mr. Corcoran in this instance would be arbitrary and absolutely barbaric,” says Frank.

If Corcoran is executed that will be the first time in 15 years Indiana has executed someone.

“We heard news this summer that after a 15-year moratorium on executions the state had reconsidered and decided to proceed with executions… The state is proceeding to execute Mr. Corcoran just because it can,” says Frank.

Frank says he is concerned about the drug, Pentobarbital, being used to execute Corcoran.

He says this is the first time Indiana has ever used this method.

“The state has never used this drug before and never used this procedure before, so they are experimenting on Mr. Corcoran,” says Frank.

Frank says it’s wrong to kill someone, especially a person who has been deemed mentally unfit by multiple doctors.

“Killing simply because you can is not a reason. It’s an act of caprice, it’s an act of cruelty,” says Frank.

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