Execution on amid death drug row

Thu Aug 18, 2011

BBC News

The US state of Virginia is set to execute a convicted murderer and rapist with a lethal injection, despite objections from the drug manufacturer.

Jerry Jackson is scheduled to die on Thursday night for the murder of 88-year-old Ruth Phillips.

A shortage of drugs used in past US executions has forced Virginia authorities to rely on an epilepsy drug manufactured by Danish firm Lundbeck.

Lundbeck has said it opposes the "distressing misuse" of its product.