The Brief

Byron Black was executed for murders he committed in 1988.

Black had a defibrillator in his chest and the Tennessee State Supreme Court ruled last week that it could be carried out without the device being deactivated.

Lawyers for Black asked a state judge for the device to be turned off during his execution to prevent prolonged pain.

A Tennessee death row inmate who had a working defibrillator in his chest was executed by lethal injection.

Byron Black died at 10:43 a.m. on Tuesday, prison officials told the Associated Press. Shortly after the lethal injection started, witnesses said Black told a spiritual advisor in the room that he was hurting so badly.

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According to the AP, Black looked around the room as th

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