Arizona death-row prisoner to die by lethal injection, not gas chamber

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - The prisoner scheduled to be executed in three weeks in what would be Arizona’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years will die by lethal injection and not in the gas chamber.

Clarence Dixon declined to pick a method of execution when officials asked him if he wanted to die by lethal injection or the gas chamber, leaving him to be put to death by lethal injection — the default method for condemned prisoners who don’t make a decision

Dixon is scheduled to be executed on May 11th with an injection of pentobarbital for his conviction in the 1977 murder of Arizona State University student Deana Bowdoin.

Prosecutors believe the execution will likely be delayed if a judge goes forward with a hearing to determine whether Dixon is mentally fit to be put to death.