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CNN Live Today
Paul Hill Executed for Murders of Abortion Doctor, Escort
Aired September 04, 2003 - 10:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move on now to convicted killer Paul Hill. He went to his death without any remorse and saying that his killing of an abortion doctor and a bodyguard would be rewarded in heaven.
Our Brian Cabell served as one of the journalist witnesses at the execution. He has more on Hill's final minutes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It didn't take long. Six minutes after three chemicals flowed into Paul Hill's body, he was declared dead in Florida's death chamber.
He gave a brief statement as he lay on a gurney, strapped in, face up. He said, "If you believe abortion is a lethal force, you should oppose the force. Do what you have to do to stop it. May God help you to protect the unborn as you would want to be protected."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ultimate sacrifice that he is making for each one of us gathered.
CABELL: Outside, across from the prison, about 40 protesters gathered, most of them opponents of abortion and supporters of Hill. Some said his crime, a double murder, was nothing more than justifiable homicide.
REV. MICHAEL BRAY, PROTESTOR: It's just like our soldiers, you know, hate to shoot those Iraqi men. You know, they don't necessarily like to shoot them. But they know they've got a job to do, and this was a job to do.
CABELL: Security around the prison was extremely high all day. There was concern because, last month, four Florida officials, including the state attorney general, received threatening letters with references to the Hill case.
Women's clinics around the nation are on alert, as well.
MONA REIS, WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER DIRECTOR: We continue to never disregard the possibility that this could happen, and we have to continue forward in the work that we do that we believe so strongly in.
CABELL: Hill, a former Presbyterian minister, shot and killed a doctor who provided abortions and a bodyguard nine years ago in Pensacola. He admitted the shootings, called it his duty as a Christian.
He left behind a wife and three children, whom he said on Tuesday he had prepared for his death.
PAUL HILL, EXECUTED FOR MURDER: I would explain to them that I did what I thought was the responsible thing, and that, you know, it has caused them a great loss, and I'm just trusting the Lord will console them.
CABELL (on camera): Families of the victims chose not to witness the execution. I did. We saw Hill be injected. He gulped, exhaled, wet his lips, then closed his eyes. That was it.
Brian Cabell, CNN, Starke, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 4, 2003 - 10:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move on now to convicted killer Paul Hill. He went to his death without any remorse and saying that his killing of an abortion doctor and a bodyguard would be rewarded in heaven.
Our Brian Cabell served as one of the journalist witnesses at the execution. He has more on Hill's final minutes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It didn't take long. Six minutes after three chemicals flowed into Paul Hill's body, he was declared dead in Florida's death chamber.
He gave a brief statement as he lay on a gurney, strapped in, face up. He said, "If you believe abortion is a lethal force, you should oppose the force. Do what you have to do to stop it. May God help you to protect the unborn as you would want to be protected."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ultimate sacrifice that he is making for each one of us gathered.
CABELL: Outside, across from the prison, about 40 protesters gathered, most of them opponents of abortion and supporters of Hill. Some said his crime, a double murder, was nothing more than justifiable homicide.
REV. MICHAEL BRAY, PROTESTOR: It's just like our soldiers, you know, hate to shoot those Iraqi men. You know, they don't necessarily like to shoot them. But they know they've got a job to do, and this was a job to do.
CABELL: Security around the prison was extremely high all day. There was concern because, last month, four Florida officials, including the state attorney general, received threatening letters with references to the Hill case.
Women's clinics around the nation are on alert, as well.
MONA REIS, WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER DIRECTOR: We continue to never disregard the possibility that this could happen, and we have to continue forward in the work that we do that we believe so strongly in.
CABELL: Hill, a former Presbyterian minister, shot and killed a doctor who provided abortions and a bodyguard nine years ago in Pensacola. He admitted the shootings, called it his duty as a Christian.
He left behind a wife and three children, whom he said on Tuesday he had prepared for his death.
PAUL HILL, EXECUTED FOR MURDER: I would explain to them that I did what I thought was the responsible thing, and that, you know, it has caused them a great loss, and I'm just trusting the Lord will console them.
CABELL (on camera): Families of the victims chose not to witness the execution. I did. We saw Hill be injected. He gulped, exhaled, wet his lips, then closed his eyes. That was it.
Brian Cabell, CNN, Starke, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
