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AFP - Unrepentant and smiling, anti-abortion extremist Paul Hill has died by lethal injection, becoming the first person executed in the United States for murdering an abortion doctor.
Minutes before the death sentence was carried out at the Florida State Prison, Hill urged abortion opponents to "defy the courts".
"May God help you to protect the unborn as you would want them to be protected," the former Christian pastor said in his final statement.
He smiled to the end as the thanked "the Lord Jesus Christ" for saving him from his sins and enabling him to persevere, a prison spokesman said.
Hill appeared calm as he was tied onto a gurney, and was given a sedative before the lethal injection was administered, the spokesman said. Hill was declared dead at 6:08 pm (0802 AEST Thursday).
Outside the northern Florida prison, about three dozen people hailed Hill as a hero for protecting unborn babies, released yellow balloons as he was executed, and sang a Christian hymn.
"It was evil to kill him," said Michael Hirsch, who had filed a motion seeking a stay of the sentence, and who witnessed the execution.
"Regardless of how you or I feel about Paul Hill, there are a lot more people killed everyday who cannot speak for themselves," he said in reference to aborted foetuses.
Hill expressed no regret for the 1994 shootings of doctor John Britton and his bodyguard James Barrett outside a Pensacola, Florida, abortion clinic.
A father of three, Hill told reporters in a death row news conference on Tuesday that in slaying Britton he prevented him from killing more unborn babies.
"Instead of being shocked, more people should do what I did," Hill said. "I expect a great reward in heaven."
Hill had not asked for clemency and said he looked forward to being in the presence of God.
But death penalty opponents had joined Hill supporters outside the prison in urging Florida Governor JebBush, the brother of President George W Bush, to commute Hill's sentence to life imprisonment.
They warned that Hill would be seen as a martyr by anti-abortion extremists.
Britton's stepdaughter Catherine Fairbanks had also asked for a stay of execution, saying Hill must be suffering from a personality disorder and should not be turned into a martyr.
Most anti-abortion groups in the United States have distanced themselves from Hill and his call to murder abortion providers.
Security was stepped up at abortion clinics amid fears that the execution could fuel a fresh spate of violence as far right-wing anti-abortion groups hailed Hill as a hero.
"What Paul Hill did was the correct thing to do. He did what God called him to do," said Don Spitz, a pastor who heads the Pro-Life Virginia anti-abortion group, runs the Army of God Web page and had acted as Hill's spiritual adviser.
Another supporter claimed Hill was doing God's work in killing Britton. "God's justice system calls for retribution," said Ronald Brock, who drove to the prison from San Diego, California in a large camper van covered in huge, pictures of aborted foetuses.
Ahead of his execution, Hill spent the day with his parents, his wife and one of his sons.
He ate a last meal of steak, broccoli, baked potato, salad, iced tea and orange sherbet.
©AAP 2003
Minutes before the death sentence was carried out at the Florida State Prison, Hill urged abortion opponents to "defy the courts".
"May God help you to protect the unborn as you would want them to be protected," the former Christian pastor said in his final statement.
He smiled to the end as the thanked "the Lord Jesus Christ" for saving him from his sins and enabling him to persevere, a prison spokesman said.
Hill appeared calm as he was tied onto a gurney, and was given a sedative before the lethal injection was administered, the spokesman said. Hill was declared dead at 6:08 pm (0802 AEST Thursday).
Outside the northern Florida prison, about three dozen people hailed Hill as a hero for protecting unborn babies, released yellow balloons as he was executed, and sang a Christian hymn.
"It was evil to kill him," said Michael Hirsch, who had filed a motion seeking a stay of the sentence, and who witnessed the execution.
"Regardless of how you or I feel about Paul Hill, there are a lot more people killed everyday who cannot speak for themselves," he said in reference to aborted foetuses.
Hill expressed no regret for the 1994 shootings of doctor John Britton and his bodyguard James Barrett outside a Pensacola, Florida, abortion clinic.
A father of three, Hill told reporters in a death row news conference on Tuesday that in slaying Britton he prevented him from killing more unborn babies.
"Instead of being shocked, more people should do what I did," Hill said. "I expect a great reward in heaven."
Hill had not asked for clemency and said he looked forward to being in the presence of God.
But death penalty opponents had joined Hill supporters outside the prison in urging Florida Governor JebBush, the brother of President George W Bush, to commute Hill's sentence to life imprisonment.
They warned that Hill would be seen as a martyr by anti-abortion extremists.
Britton's stepdaughter Catherine Fairbanks had also asked for a stay of execution, saying Hill must be suffering from a personality disorder and should not be turned into a martyr.
Most anti-abortion groups in the United States have distanced themselves from Hill and his call to murder abortion providers.
Security was stepped up at abortion clinics amid fears that the execution could fuel a fresh spate of violence as far right-wing anti-abortion groups hailed Hill as a hero.
"What Paul Hill did was the correct thing to do. He did what God called him to do," said Don Spitz, a pastor who heads the Pro-Life Virginia anti-abortion group, runs the Army of God Web page and had acted as Hill's spiritual adviser.
Another supporter claimed Hill was doing God's work in killing Britton. "God's justice system calls for retribution," said Ronald Brock, who drove to the prison from San Diego, California in a large camper van covered in huge, pictures of aborted foetuses.
Ahead of his execution, Hill spent the day with his parents, his wife and one of his sons.
He ate a last meal of steak, broccoli, baked potato, salad, iced tea and orange sherbet.
©AAP 2003