If At First You Don't Succeed...

The Christian state of Ohio is to make a second attempt on the life of one of its enemies, its minions having failed at the first attempt because they were unable to find a suitable blood vessel for the almost certainly painless lethal injection. Despite the co-operation of the injectee, for which the prison governor has expressed due gratitude, the forces of righteousness spent two hours failing to find a vein that shared its owner's obliging nature. When the injectee became distressed, a member of the disposal squad handed him a toilet roll; but humane gestures have their limits, even in the Christian state of Ohio, so they're going to try again next week.

Meanwhile, the God-fearing state of Texas has rejected an appeal by a man who was sentenced to death by his prosecutor's lover; and is also "grappling" with the possibility that a man executed five years ago for murdering his childen was innocent. We can but remember the state of Texas in our prayers, and hope that the struggle will not cause undue moral trauma.