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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1994)
Inside Weekend 1 Daily, Nebraskan COVERING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SINCE 1901 VOL. 94 NO. 11 Sports NU Volleyball team opens season In Indiana PagelO Arts & Entertainment I Blazestock to rock dowmtown Lincoln, Page 12 PAGE 2: Mystery envelope to be opened in OJ. case Shaun Sarlin/DN Harold Lamont Otey waves from a window of the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Otey was pronounced dead at 12:33 a.m. this morning after receiving four 2,400-volt surges of electricity. “Vie electric chair isn t a wry dignified way to die, hut Harold Lamont Oley died with dignity. ” ■ Leslie Boellstorlf, Omaha World-Herald reporter execution witness Witnesses describe Otey’s final moments By Matthew Waite Senior Reporter Harold Lamont Otcy was put to death early Friday morning, the first execu tion in the state of Nebraska since 1958. The execution started at 12:23 a.m. and ended at 12:25 a.m. Otey was pro nounced dead at 12:33 a.m. Otcy was sentenced to death in the electric chair for the 1977 rape and murder of Jane McManus of Omaha. The last execution in Nebraska was Charles Starkweather’s 35 years ago. State witnesses were questioned af ter the execution by more than 40 mem bers of the media. The State’s witnesses were Ed Howard of the Associated Press, Leslie Bocllstorff of the Omaha World-Her ald, Mike Mcknight of WOWT-TV in Omaha, Paul Wicc of KGFW of Kearney, Bill Kreifcl of the Lincoln Journal and John Shaw, the associate warden of administrative services. Witnesses who Otcy selected were friends Joseph Munshaw and Jessica French, Attorney Paula Hutchinson and clergyman Alim Obdullah. The media Inside ■About 2,000 people gathered at the Nebraska State Peniten tiary Thursday night supporting and protesting the execution of Harold Lamont Otey. See photos, stories on pages 7,8,v. ^ was not allowed to question those wit nesses. BoellstorlT, the first to speak, was visibly shaken by what she had wit nessed. Her hands shook as she spoke to reporters. “Theelcctric chair isn’t a very digni fied way todic, but Harold Lamont Otey died with dignity,” she said, her voice trembling as she told her story. “He smiled and said ‘I love you’ to the witnesses, to his witnesses who where there.” McKnight said Otey did not have any last words but looked every witness See EXECUTION on 7 Victim’s family feels 'calmer’ after execution By Kara G. Morrison Senior Editor OMAHA — Thirteen members of the McManus family calmly gathered outside Joan McManus’ Omaha apart ment Friday morning to say 17 years of pain had ended. “It’sovcrnow,” Joan McManus said. Joan McManus led family members onto the porch of her Omaha apartment minutes after hearing her daughter’s killer had been executed. Harold LamontOtcy was electrocut ed at the Nebraska State Penitentiary at 12:23 a.m. Friday. Otcy was convicted in 1977 of raping and murdering 26 year-old Jane McManus. “I can maybe think of Jane now in a little different way — a little more peaceful way,” Joan McManus told re porters. “I feel a little calmer now that l know it has reached finality.” Joan McManussaid she felt forOtey’s family but thought the execution was a necessary act. “It’s an unfortunate thing to have to know there was another death tonight because of this,” she said."... I’m sorry that the other family had to experience that pain tonight, but so be it. It had to be that way.” The McManuses thanked Attorney General Don Stcnbcrg and Gov. Ben Nelson for their support, and Joan McManus thanked ‘‘everyone who helped as get the news across that Jane will not be forgotten.” Jane's sister, Laura McManus, said it was too early for family members to explain their feelings, now that the execution finally had been carried out, but said the family was glad it was over. “I don’t think any of us have an emotion right now. I think its some thing we need to sleep on,” Laura McManas said. “For us it's over. “I’ve suflercdcspcciallyovcrthc last three years of fighting this. ... Harold Otey killed our sister.” For Joan McManas, Otey's execu tion meant an end to legal proceedings and public appearances for her and her family. “Tomorrow we’re going to go back to being private people again, because it has been very difficult for us to be in front of the camera.” 7 can maybe think of Jane now in a little diffenetit way — a little more peaceful way. ” ■ Joan McManus, mother of murder victim Jane McManus "My life has beeti enriched hy his friendship. ” ■ Hanno Klassen, retired Minnesota professor and Otey follower Judge Memtt denies Biorklund s request tor new trial By Jeffrey Robb _ Senior Editor Roger Bjorklund will not get a new trial, a judge ruled Thursday. District Judge Paul Merritt, in denying Bjorklund's motion, wrote in a six-page decision that prayers given by Judge Donald Endacott before tnc jury last October were harmless and failed to influence the verdict. Endacott had assigned Merritt to review the effect of a prayer, if any, on jurors. Endacott will sentence Bjorklund on Sept. 20. Bjorklund was originally scheduled to be sen tcnccd in May 1994, but the sentencing was delayed pending the ruling. Bjorklund was convicted last November of the rape and murder of Candice Harms, a University of Ncbraska-Lincoln freshman. The prosecution has said it will seek the death penally against him. Merritt wrote in his decision that after jury selection in Sidney, Endacott met with jurors and asked them to join hands and bow their heads. He then said. “God be with us,” Merritt wrote. Attorneys for Bjorklund heard about Endacott's prayer during a meeting with the judge in Febru ary and later filed an appeal, saying their defen dant's right to a fair trial had been a Hoc ted. “The prayers were very short in nature and were not interpreted by the jurors as being com ments by Judge Endacott on the evidence to be presented in the ease or on how the ease should be decided,” Merritt wrote. “From the time the 12 jurors were selected and sworn up to the time the case was submitted to the jurors... Judge Endacott continued to remind the jurors of their duty to keep open minds and base their verdict only on the evidence presented.” In April, Endacott denied Bjorkiund’s appeal, but prosecutors decided to take the issue further to avoid a future appeal from Bjorklund. LancastcrCounlyDistrictAttomcyGary Lacey said Merritt had taken enough steps to determine that the contact didn’t pollute the jury. All the jurors told Merritt the prayer didn’t affect them, Lacey said. “I’m pleased (Judge Merritt) decided the way he did,” Lacey said. “It allows the case to be finalized.” Bjorklund’s attorney, Scott Helvie, was un available for comment Thursday, but he was reported as saying any appeals would have to wait until after sentencing.
