A Dallas man who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 1999 while he was out on parole has been executed after the US Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal.
William Rayford, 64, was pronounced dead at 8:48pm on Tuesday, said Texas prison spokesman Jason Clark. He was sentenced to death for beating and strangling former girlfriend Carol Hall, 44.
Rayford apologised to the victim's family and asked for them to forgive him in his final words, according to Clark.
"I'm sorry, it has been bothering me for a long time. So I now pray and I will keep you all in my prayers. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm sorry," Rayford said, according to Clark.
Rayford had served eight years of a 23-year sentence for killing his wife in 1986 when he was released on parole in 1994, prison records showed.
