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McALESTER, Okla. (AP) A woman convicted of killing her son's
ex-girlfriend in 1982 was executed Tuesday night by lethal
injection, making her the third woman and 17th inmate put to death
this year in Oklahoma.
With the execution of Lois Nadean Smith, 61, Oklahoma now leads
the nation in the number of executions this year.
Texas has had 16 executions, with one more scheduled before
year's end. Oklahoma also has one more execution set for this year.
Sahib Al-Mosawi was scheduled to die Thursday for killing his wife
and her uncle.
Smith is the last woman on Oklahoma's death row. No state has
executed as many women in one year since the death penalty was
reinstated in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information
Center in Washington.
Before the drugs were administered, she thanked her attorneys
and asked for forgiveness.
"To the families, I want to say I'm sorry for the pain and loss
I've caused you," Smith said. "I ask that you forgive me. You
must forgive to be forgiven."
Smith was convicted of killing 21-year-old Cindy Baillie in July
1982. Baillie was shot nine times and stabbed in the throat.
"I'm glad it's over. It's been a long time," said Baillie's
daughter, Brandy Fields.
Authorities said Smith and her son, Greg, picked up Baillie the
morning of the killing. Smith then confronted her about rumors that
she had threatened to have her son killed.
Prosecutors said Lois Smith began to choke Baillie and stabbed
her in the throat with a knife; Baillie was then driven to a home
where Lois Smith shot her.
Greg Smith was convicted of murder and given a life sentence.
Prosecutors said he reloaded his mother's gun during the shooting.
Lois Smith's attorneys said she was trying to protect her son
and was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time.
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