Texas Man Executed Despite 11th-Hour Legal Back-And-Forth

Raphael Holiday was executed Wednesday night for the death of three children in a house fire in 2000, despite an 11th-hour legal battle that saw an execution warrant voided then reinstated in the span of a few hours.

A Texas attorney had been appealing Holiday’s case, claiming his two court-appointed lawyers had ”abandoned” him when they declined to file any more appeals for him.

His trial judge suspended his execution warrant Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The Texas attorney general’s office appealed the decision, and the warrant was reinstated, the AP reported.

Holiday was killed via lethal injection. The AP was on the scene:

Asked by a warden if he had a final statement, Holiday thanked his “supporters and loved ones.”

“I love y’all,” he said. “I want you to know I’m always going to be with you.”

He thanked the warden. As the lethal dose of pentobarbital began, he took two deep breaths and appeared to yawn, his mouth remaining open as he wheezed several times. Then all movement stopped.

Nineteen minutes later, at 8:30 p.m. CST, he was pronounced dead.

A Madison County home burned down in 2000, killing Holiday’s 1-year-old daughter and 5- and 7-year-old step daughters.

He was found guilty of having started the fire, with evidence and testimony showing he went to his estranged wife’s home, doused it gasoline and set it ablaze, according to the Associated Press.