Hall is the second functionally blind prisoner executed in the United States since 1976
Lee Hall has been executed by electric chair, after 28 years on death row, for the 1991 Chattanooga murder of his estranged girlfriend Traci Crozier. He was pronounced dead at 7:26 p.m. His last words were, "People can learn forgiveness and love to make this world a better place." Hall is just the 2nd legally blind prisoner to be executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Crozier had left Hall in the spring of 1991, reportedly after he’d become abusive. On April 17, 1991, Hall threw a lit container full of gas into Crozier's car while she was in the front seat. Despite the severe burns covering her entire body, Crozier remained conscious and alert enough to express concern to emergency responders about her hair. She survived until the next day.
Hall has repeatedly expressed remorse for Crozier’s death. In a court filing from last year, his attorneys write that he “broke down sobbing uncontrollably during medical testimony” about Crozier’s horrific injuries. He testified on his own behalf at the trial and said that he’d never intended to kill Crozier, only to burn her car in anger (which he’d done before). He also said that after Crozier left him, he’d been drinking heavily and smoking crack cocaine.
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Hall’s execution proceeded despite requests for a reprieve by his attorneys, who wanted a court to fully consider new evidence of juror bias in his trial. That claim focuses on the recent admission by a juror that she had been raped and abused by her husband and that she "hated" Hall as a result. In a letter to Gov. Bill Lee, Hall's attorneys wrote that the juror "failed to disclose during jury selection, when asked, that she was a victim of domestic violence in her first marriage and had life experiences that mirrored aspects of the State's proof at trial." A similar issue in the case of Hubert Glenn Sexton led the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals to order a new trial for Sexton last week.
The Tennessee Supreme Court and Gov. Lee rejected Hall’s requests to delay the execution earlier this week.
In a press conference held shortly after the execution, media witness A.J. Abell of WZTV described what he called “smoking” coming from the right side of Hall’s face at approximately 7:19 p.m. “It was a little smoke,” said Abell. “It was almost as if you’re putting out a match and there’s just a little [smoke] that trails off at the end.”
In a statement read by one of his attorneys, John Spragens, at the press conference, Hall apologized to Crozier's family.
“I ask for your forgiveness and I hope and pray that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me," he said.
Hall also apologized to his family, including his brother who was at the prison Thursday night to witness his execution.
"I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused my brother, David, and my mother and my family," he said. "I hope this brings peace and I don’t want them to worry about me anymore.”
Spragens also read a statement from Hall's family.
“We are devastated by the loss of Traci and now Lee. Lee loved Traci more than anything, and we welcomed her into our family and love her too," they said. "We also love Lee and wish that we could’ve changed the events of that tragic day. Lee did not intend to cause her death, nor the pain she endured. He admitted the truth and accepted his punishment. He also accepted Jesus Christ and only wishes for the Crozier family to accept his sincere apology and hopes they find the peace and closure they so deserve. Lee and his family want to extend a thank you to all the prison staff and inmates in Unit 2 for their support and assistance to Lee through the loss of his vision. We also want to thank all the attorneys and staff who represented him. We deeply appreciate the love and kindness that our friends and church members have shown us, and for keeping us in your prayers through these difficult times. Now we have all lost, but we find peace in knowing that they are both with the Lord. Thank you."
Crozier's sister, Staci Wooten, witnessed the execution and she too read a statement afterwards.
“The day has come and gone now," she said. "The day my family has waited on for 28 years. Now our family’s peace can begin, but another family’s hell has to begin. Today will not bring my sister or my dad’s daughter back. But now, may she find her peace in heaven with our mom. She will always be greatly missed by her family and everyone who knew her. But hopefully today, ending this monster’s life will bring some peace within everyone who has had to suffer throughout these 28 years without my beautiful sister. We all fought this battle for you, Traci, and today we won."
✔ Hall becomes the 3rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Tennessee and the 12th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 2000.
✔ Hall is the 6th Tennessee prisoner to be executed since Aug. 2018. He's the 4th of those men to choose the electric chair over a 3-drug lethal injection protocol that medical experts have said amounts to torture.
✔ Hall becomes the 21st condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1,511th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.
Source: Nashville Scene, Staff, Rick Halperin, December 5, 2019
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