Death row inmate Ivan Cantu was executed for a double murder he insists he did not commit in a case that has drawn the attention of the Catholic Church and a number of celebrities (Picture: Getty Images)
A death row inmate has been executed for murdering a couple including his cousin – despite his claims of innocence that were backed by celebrities including Kim Kardashian.
Ivan Cantu, 50, who insisted his conviction more than two decades ago was based on shaky evidence and false testimony, died by lethal injection at a state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, at 6.47pm on Wednesday.
He used his last words to reiterate that he did not fatally shoot his cousin, 27-year-old James Mosqueda, 27, and his cousin’s girlfriend, 22-year-old Amy Kitchen.
‘I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy,’ Cantu said to relatives and Kitchen’s friend who watched through a window.
‘And if I did, if I knew who did, you would’ve been the first to know any information.’
Cantu added that he did not believe his execution ‘will bring you closure’.
‘If it does, if this is what it takes or have any reservations off in your mind, then so be it,’ he said.
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